OSINT SUMMARY, MOGADISHU Somalia, May 3, 2016
May 3, 2016, Halane military camp came under mortar shells from the Al-Shabaab militants but shells failed to hit target. February, 2016 terrorists, some of whom were disguised in Somali National Army (SNA) uniforms, breached the base camp around lunch hour and attempted to gain access, five were killed and three captured.
Halane is the largest AMISOM’s military camp located in Somali’s capital Mogadishu.
According to AMISOM’s spokesman Lt Col Joe Kibet, Halane military camp came under mortar shelling for the Al Qaeda linked Islamists Al-Shabaab but the AU peacekeepers managed to respond to the attacker without suffering any casualty from the bombardments.
Kibet further clarified that the Halane camp and all African Union and United Nations personnel are all safe and accounted for. He refuted Al-Shabaab claims that they killed soldiers as propaganda aimed at keeping the Al-Shabaab relevant.
The militant group is desperately trying to conduct a major attack in Somalia’s capital to prove its worth among the jihadist circles citing the entourage of the pro-ISIL branch within their territory.
The AMISOM’s Halane military camp is located in the most secure area in Mogadishu but the failed attack on the camp underscores security challenges facing Federal Government of Somalia and allied troops battling Al-Shabaab insurgents in effort to secure the war-torn horn of Africa nation.
Halane AU military base also hosts United Nations offices among other foreign embassies. This makes it prime target by Al-Shabaab terrorists.
International community has been called to come and help stem down Al-Shabaab financiers as well as weapon flow in Somalia. U.S. and Britain have troops in Somalia working closely along SNA and AMISOM.
