Somalia: AU troops hit by explosion

[Deeq A.]

MOGADISHU (Caasimada Online) — A roadside bomb explosion has ripped through an African Union peacekeeping forces’ armored personnel carrier in central Somalia.

The explosion hit armored convoy carrying Djibouti-an troops with African Union peacekeeping force on Thursday in Baladweyne town, some 335km north of Mogadishu, a witness said.

He says the blast went off while the African Union troops have been on petrol in the town.

It is unclear how many soldiers were killed or injured in Thursday’s bomb explosion.

The peacekeepers reportedly opened fire to response to the bomb attack, causing untold number of casualties.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion.

But, such attacks are often carried out by Al Qaeda inspired group Al Shabaab battling Somali army forces and African Union troops in Somalia.

Last month, a Djibouti-an soldier was killed and two others injured following landmine explosion hit an armored vehicle in Buloburde town in central Somalia.

Al-Shabab has been waging an insurgency in Somalia for more than 10 years.

However, a 22,000-strong African Union force is in the country to help the government fight the al-Qaeda-linked militants.

Caasimada Online
Mogadishu News Desk
Caasimada@live.com