By Risdel Kasasira
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Six Ugandan peacekeepers have been confirmed killed in Mogadishu in the latest fighting that brings the number of dead UPDF soldiers to over 80 since Ugandan forces were deployed in Somalia in 2007. However, military sources yesterday put the number of Ugandans killed on Sunday, in Karaan District, Mogadishu at 16.
This is the biggest number of casualties inflicted on the African Union peacekeepers in three months after the insurgents withdrew from their key strategic positions in Mogadishu in July.
The spokesperson of African Union, Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, told Daily Monitor that the number was lower. “I think you got a higher figure of soldiers who died in the fighting… AMISOM incurred six casualties. Check their details with Col Kulayigye. I am currently out of Mogadishu,” Col. Ankunda said.
Sources from northern Uganda said two soldiers from Gulu and another one from Nebbi were buried yesterday. The al-Shabaab insurgents have intensified suicide attacks and car bombs against government, civilian and African Union positions in the last two months.
There were reports last week that armed vehicles belonging to al-Shabaab were moving from southern regions of Kismayo and Bay, heading to the Somali capital Mogadishu to attack government and African Union forces.
Al Shabaab lost strategic places in Hilliwa district on October 8, following the battle between them and the Transitional Federal Government forces backed by AU peacekeepers.
The statement issued by AU yesterday said: “Last week, the extremists were driven out from their last stronghold in the city by the Somali National Army with the support of AMISOM troops.”
AMISOM has approximately 9,000 troops composed of Ugandans and Burundians in the Somali capital and has been continually calling for additional troops, already authorised by the UN Security Council.
Sierra Leon, Djibouti and Guinea have pledged forces to reinforce Ugandans but have not deployed due lack of military equipment. The Somali insurgents abandoned conventional frontline in Mogadishu and are now using snipping, suicide and car bombs.
On Monday, they attacked a building near Foreign Affairs Ministry using a suicide car bomb killed at least four civilians and injured 15. The AU Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar Diarra condemned the attack, saying it was a cowardly act.