A Somali soldier who had defected from al Shabaab opened fire on UAE and Somali military officials at a base in Mogadishu, killing four people and injuring six others.
The attack took place on Saturday at the Gordon military base, where the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was training Somali armed forces as part of its efforts to support the country’s fight against the Islamist militant group al Shabaab.
According to an army officer who witnessed the incident, the gunman started shooting when the UAE and Somali officials were praying. He killed four Somali soldiers and one UAE soldier before he was shot dead by other soldiers.
The UAE’s defense ministry confirmed the death of three of its armed forces members and one Bahraini officer in a statement, calling it a “terrorist act”. It said two more UAE soldiers were injured and that it was cooperating with the Somali government to investigate the attack.
Al Shabaab, which is linked to al Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack via a statement on its Radio al Andalus and said its fighters had killed 17 soldiers.
A Setback for Somalia’s Security
The attack was a setback for Somalia’s security, which has been struggling to contain al Shabaab’s insurgency since 2006. The militant group wants to overthrow the internationally-backed government and impose its strict version of Islamic law.
The UAE has been one of the main supporters of Somalia’s security sector, providing training, equipment, and funding to the Somali army and police. It has also helped build infrastructure and humanitarian projects in the country.
However, the UAE’s involvement in Somalia has also been controversial, as it has been accused of meddling in the country’s internal affairs and supporting rival factions. In 2018, Somalia severed its military cooperation with the UAE after a dispute over the seizure of millions of dollars by Somali security forces at Mogadishu airport.
The UAE denied any wrongdoing and said it was providing the money to pay the salaries of Somali soldiers.
A Hope for Peace
Despite the challenges, Somalia has made some progress in recent years in restoring stability and democracy. In February, the country held its first direct presidential election since 1991, which saw the incumbent Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, also known as Farmajo, win a second term.
Farmajo has pledged to continue the fight against al Shabaab and to pursue dialogue and reconciliation with the country’s federal states and opposition groups.
The international community, including the African Union, the United Nations, and the European Union, has also reaffirmed its commitment to support Somalia’s peace and development.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud offered his condolences to the UAE following the attack and praised its role in helping Somalia.
He said he hoped the incident would not affect the strong ties between the two countries and their common goal of defeating al Shabaab and bringing peace and prosperity to Somalia.
Source: ReutersÂ
