Ugandan Troops Face Losses in Bold Somali Assault
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Loading... - Rosie Payne
- 29 May 2023
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President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has confirmed the occurrence of casualties resulting from a daring attack executed by al-Shabab, a notorious extremist group hailing from Somalia. The assault, which took place on Friday, specifically targeted a military base overseen by Ugandan peacekeepers situated in the Horn of Africa.
Although Museveni did not disclose the precise number of soldiers killed or wounded, this marks the first official acknowledgement of losses suffered by the Ugandan troops serving in the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). In a statement, Museveni expressed his condolences to the nation and the families of those who lost their lives, while also mentioning that a military panel had been established to investigate the incident.
Since 2006, al-Shabab has been engaged in a battle to overthrow Somalia's Western-backed government and impose its own stringent interpretation of Islamic law. Museveni revealed that during the attack, some of the soldiers at the base failed to meet expectations and succumbed to panic, resulting in disarray. Exploiting this opportunity, al-Shabab managed to overrun the base and inflict damage upon military equipment.
Approximately 800 assailants participated in the assault, forcing the Ugandan troops to retreat to a nearby base located roughly 9 kilometers away, according to Museveni. The attack by al-Shabab took place early Friday morning in Bulamarer, approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of the capital city, Mogadishu.
During the initial announcement, al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, asserting that it employed suicide bombings and successfully eliminated 137 soldiers stationed at the base. However, official confirmation of the casualties has yet to be provided. It is worth noting that al-Shabab often reports casualty figures that differ from those released by authorities.
As of now, ATMIS has not disclosed the number of troops killed or injured in the assault. Since its inception in 2007, the peacekeeping mission has been actively supporting the defense of Somalia's central government against terrorist organizations.
