Shabaab assaults African Union base
Shabaab, al Qaeda’s official branch in Somalia, has reportedly killed more than 50 Burundian troops stationed at an African Union base in the southern Somalian town of Leego. The Burundian forces are part of AMISOM, or the African Union Mission in Somalia.
The African Union (AU) base in Leego, which is northeast of the capital of Mogadishu, came under attack last night after a suicide bomber detonated near the facility. After the explosion, an assault team was able to enter the compound, killing dozens.
Suicide assaults are a common tactic used by jihadists, such as al Qaeda, its rival the Islamic State, the Taliban, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and Boko Haram. These type of attacks are common in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Nigeria, and in Somalia.
The Guardian has quoted witnesses saying that “as many as 50 bodies” were found in the base after the assault. Some witnesses have said some bodies were beheaded, but this claim has not yet been confirmed. Other reports have put the body count closer to 70 Burundian troops. According to The Guardian, only 100 Burundian soldiers were in the base.
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