AU denies reports of soldiers vacating bases after Al-Shabab attack

Maman Sidikou, African Union (AU) Special Representative for Somalia (SRCC) and Head of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), has denied reports that AU soldiers have vacated bases after Al-Shabab attack.

Hiiraan Online
Saturday, Jul 4, 2015

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MOGADISHU (HOL) — Few days after Al-Shabab fighters have killed dozens of African Union soldiers in a deadly complex attack at an army outpost in southern Somalia, reports have emerged that AU soldiers have subsequently vacated three more bases for fear of more attacks by the group which stepped up attacks during the holy month of Radmadan.

Several local and international media reported that Al-Shabab fighters have moved into the bases allegedly vacated by the AMISOM forces, a development which if confirmed seems to be turning tables against the peacekeeping mission.

However, Maman Sidikou, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union for Somalia and Head of AMISOM has denied the reports as ‘falsehood’ being circulated by some media organizations.

“Ambassador Sidikou advises all Somalis to disregard this alarming falsehood aimed at creating fear in their minds and to also depict AMISOM in bad light.” said in a statement from the African Union headquarters in Mogadishu on Friday.

The attack on the Lego base was one of the deadliest for the AU forces in Somalia, with militants have stormed the base, killing dozens of soldiers and looted the base.

Al-Shabab’s media arm Al-Kataaib has later posted photos showing dozens of dead soldiers lying in the base and caches of arms seized during the attack.

Fighting back the allegation, Mr. Sidikou said the reports aim to instill fear in the minds of many and depicting AMISOM in bad light, assuring them that troops would not vacate bases recovered from militants.

AU officials declined to give the figures on causalities from theattack, however, independent sources confirmed to HOL that at least 50 soldiers were killed in the attack in the rural Lego village, 120 west of Mogadishu.

Security experts warned that militants’ current guerilla-style of staging deadly surprise attacks targeting troops would likely to morph from its usual suicide attacks on loosely secured locations including hotels, in the light of recent attacks by hundreds of fighters targeting troops or army bases across the country.

“Apparently, such attacks will put Al-Shabab in a very strong position.” said Ali Ahmed Nor, a Somalia security expert as well as a retired military general.

“Despite the AU forces’ superior power, the group is able to carry out large-scale attacks in towns held by the government that pose massive security challenges,” he added.

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