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At least four people, including two civilians, were killed and four others injured after heavy fighting between Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces and African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM) against al-Shabaab insurgents erupted in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Monday night.
According to locals, fighting broke out when al-Shabaab fighters attacked TFG and AMISOM bases in Asluubta building, Ex-control-Afgoi junction and Bangala village of Dayniile and Dharkinley districts at midnight. The heaviest fighting took place in Bangala village which the TFG and AMISOM had recently seized from al-Shabaab.
A TFG military official in ex-control-Afgoi who requested anonymity confirmed the fighting to Somalia Report and claimed they killed two insurgents and four TFG soldiers were wounded.
“First they attacked Bangala village, but the national forces repelled them and killed two militias, perhaps they carried another dead body,” he said. “Early this morning, they struck once more, but they fled after 10 minutes of firing.”
Al-Shabaab chairman in Banadir region, Sheikh Mohamed Hassan Omar (Abu Abdirahman), spoke to pro-al-Shabaab radio station in Elasha-Biyaha and stated that their troops inflicted losses upon the “enemy” after entering AMISOM military camps. He claimed they seized military equipment.
Local residents claimed that during the fighting AMISOM forces shelled the populated area of Dayniile district, which resulted in the deaths of two civilians.
“Mortars that we believe was launched from the AMISOM base hit a house on the outskirts of Dayniile district and killed two people from one family,” Sa’id Ali Wayt, a resident in Dayniile, told Somalia Report.
No comments were available from AMISOM regarding these allegations.
However, this will be the second night that the insurgents have attacked TFG and AMISOM bases in Mogadishu. The militants are trying to recapture the capital, which they deserted seven months ago, a move they described as a tactical retreat.