MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – Several people, including UN international staff, were killed on Sunday in a mortar attack on the heavily fortified Halane Base Camp in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital.
Halane Base Camp, located within Somalia’s “green zone” near the Mogadishu airport, houses UN offices, the African Union, and Western embassies.
The attack took place in the early hours of the morning when multiple mortars struck UN offices and accommodation areas that host foreign staff and NGO workers, according to security sources.
At least three UN staff members were among the casualties, along with several Somali staff members who were killed or injured.
Eyewitnesses reported that about five mortar rounds struck the accommodation area where some foreign staff were sleeping.
Photos from the scene show blood-stained beds and shattered walls as security personnel assessed the damage.
The UN has not commented on the attack.
The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), whose main headquarters is located within the Halane area, condemned the attack.
“This heinous attack will not deter us or the Somali Security Forces from pursuing lasting peace and security in Somalia. We reaffirm our commitment to combat terrorism and build a peaceful and prosperous Somalia,” said Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, Special Representative of the African Union Commission and Head of ATMIS.
The mission extended condolences to the victims’ families and wished a swift recovery for those injured.
ATMIS confirmed that its Senior Leadership Team visited the impact sites following the attack.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.
The group has frequently carried out mortar attacks across Mogadishu in recent months, killing civilians and security personnel alike.
Mogadishu has recently seen a rise in violence as militant and militia groups gain increased access to weapons.
Corruption among the government forces has also contributed to an influx of illicit arms on the black market, further destabilizing security in the capital.
Al-Shabaab has also escalated assassination attacks across Mogadishu, specifically targeting the business community for installing CCTV cameras on their premises to deter crime.
Security sources report that prices of weapons and ammunition on the black market have dropped significantly, following the UN Security Council’s decision in December to lift the partial arms embargo on Somalia.