Somalia: AU base attacked by Al-Shabaab, many feared dead

A base of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), was early today attacked by Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab.

The extremist group found their way inside the AMISOM southern el-Ade base by ramming a suicide bomb vehicle through the gates of the base.

This information was given by the Somali army and the group itself which has already claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Alshabaab attack: Militants attack somali military camp in southern Somalia #NTVNewsUpdate MarkMasai pic.twitter.com/TsjOtz4Kdo

— NTV Kenya (ntvkenya) January 15, 2016

“Our fighters went in and after heavy exchange of gunfire we took over the base,” Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, Al-Shabaab’s military operations spokesman told Reuters.

He was speaking while fighting in the base was ongoing.

A military officer stationed about 100 km from the base said he could still hear the ongoing heavy exchange of gunfire moments after the suicide car bomb exploded at the gates of the base.

There are varied reports on casualties from the attack. Al-Shabaab says it killed dozens of Kenyan soldiers while other reports say up to 50 people were killed.

Somalia's Al-Shabaab says it killed ‘dozens’ of Kenyan soldiers in attack—reports of up to 50 dead https://t.co/TpksE8jF2x via MandGAfrica

— Charles Onyango-Obbo (cobbo3) January 15, 2016

The Al-Qaeda affiliated extremist group has in the past targeted African Union bases in Somalia, in an effort to drive out foreign troops and introduce their harsh version of Islamic law.

#Kenya Defense Forces statement on #alShabaab attack African Union base in El-Adde, #Somalia.Casualties unknown pic.twitter.com/lQTN0GNkee

— Raven*H⚓️U*Wolf (RavenHUWolf) January 15, 2016

AMISOM has been operating with the approval of the United Nations since 2007. It is largely dominated by Kenyan forces.