8 killed in attack on Mogadishu military base housing UN, AU agencies

Mogadishu, Mar 23 (EFE).- An attack by the Somali Islamist terror group Al-Shabaab on a Mogadishu military compound housing United Nations and African Union agencies killed at least eight people and injured 11 others, local police told Efe on Wednesday.

Police officer Mohamed Adam, who witnessed the attack, said he could see fire and smoke coming from the Halane base camp.

“The attack resulted in the death of eight people, including two police officers, a soldier from AMISOM (the African Union Mission in Somalia) and five civilians,” he added.

Somali militant group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

Al-Shabab, an affiliate of Al-Qaeda, aims to expel all foreign forces from Somalia and establish a strict Islamic state.

Somalia has been in a state of upheaval since 1991 when the toppling of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre left the country without an effective government and vulnerable to Islamic militants, warlords and criminal groups. EFE

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