Sunday 20th September 2015; Credible OSINT report confirmed at least three AMISOM soldiers’ sustained injuries after a heavy roadside landmine targeted their convoy at Tarake area in Gedo region.
The landmine believed to have been planted by the Al Qaeda branch in Somalia targeted the Army vehicles that were escorting a lorry carrying AMISOM supplies headed to a nearby military camp within the area.
Gedo is a volatile region and is believed to be home to hundreds Al Shabaab militants. The region falls under sector 3 manned by Ethiopian troops. On 19th September 2015, the militants ambushed Kenya Defence Forces convoy outside El Ade area in Gedo region near the Somali-Kenya border and the army responded killing 13 Al Shabaab fighters.
Harakat al Shabaab al Mujahideen movement is trying to topple the international backed government and installing strict Islamist Sharia Law in Somalia. The Al Shabaab militants are fighting the government forces as well as the AU peacekeeping troops better known as the AMISOM.
Al Shabaab elements have in the past few weeks intensified sporadic attacks targeting the security forces as well at their camps.
Tarake landmine targeting the AMISOM forces is one among a series of attacks and ambush. The militants seem to have adopted the roadside landmine tactic beside the occasional SVIED which have also been witnessed.
Tarake blast that was caused by a remote-controlled landmine could have caused serious casualties but luckily it detonated after the trucks had passed. AMISOM forces immediately condoned the area and launched a major ground manhunt operation in search for perpetrators.
