By Spy Uganda
A squad of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the African Mission for Somalia (AMISOM), on Friday morning foiled an attack by Al-Shabaab terrorists at Barawe airport, in Somalia.
This website has learnt that Al-Shabaab militants attacked an African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) military base at Barawe airport in Barawe (Lower Shabelle region) on Friday morning (local time), April 24 but were viciouy repulsed.
According to local sources, the militants used two vehicles loaded with explosives in the attacks.
AMISOM troops reportedly destroyed one suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) as it approached the gate of the base.
The second vehicle was reportedly abandoned by the driver outside the base and then detonated. Reports suggest that gunfire was heard following the two blasts.
The number of casualties remain unclear as of Friday afternoon, although Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.
Commenting about the attack, UPDF spokesperson Brig.Richard Karemire tweeted thus; “The UPDF in Barawe has this morning foiled an attempted Al Shabab attack on its position. The forces in ambush successfully blew two enemy vehicles loaded with dangerous explosives. No soldier was injured in the fight and high alert is being maintained.”
It should be noted that Al-Shabaab continue to exercise effective control over large zones in south and central Somalia and attacks from the group are frequent across the country, including in Mogadishu.
The group often targets government officials and military infrastructure in a bid to topple the West- and UN-backed government and impose its own strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law in Somalia, against the will of the people.
