Türkiye condemns attack on African Union military base in Somalia

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye on Saturday condemned an attack by al-Shabaab terrorists on a base of African Union forces in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region.

Türkiye condemned the terrorist attack against Ugandan peacekeepers at the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in Buulo Mareer, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of ATMIS personnel who lost their lives while serving for the peace and security of the Somali people,” it said.

Expressing condolences to the people of both Uganda and Somalia, Türkiye also wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

“Türkiye will continue to stand by Somalia in the fight against terrorism,” it added.

On Friday, the ATMIS forward operating base in Buulo Mareer was attacked by al-Shabaab militants using car bombs and suicide bombers, the mission said in a statement on Friday.

“ATMIS would like to assure the public and all other entities in the country that everything is being done to bring the situation under control,” it added.

The base, located 110 kilometers (68 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu, houses the Ugandan forces serving under ATMIS.

Casualties from the attack are unknown.

Somalia has been plagued by insecurity for years, with the terror groups al-Shabaab and Daesh/ISIS being the main threats.

The group has been fighting the Somali government and the African Union mission in Somalia since 2007.