Somalia’s army suffered what observers describe as its heaviest blow this year after Al-Shabaab fighters ambushed a large government convoy in Lower Shabelle on Monday, October 26. The two sides have given sharply different accounts of the losses.
The convoy, reported to include around 2,000 Somali National Army troops and more than 200 vehicles, was attacked in the Jame’o area between Leego and Burhakabo shortly after leaving Leego. The troops had been drawn from several fronts for Operation Banooda, a federal push to reopen the road linking Baidoa and Mogadishu.
Al-Shabaab claimed it killed 321 soldiers and allied militia fighters in a three-hour attack and seized prisoners, weapons and vehicles. The Ministry of Defence described the clash as a major assault by its own forces, saying about 75 militants were killed and 56 wounded, and confirmed the attackers used explosives-laden vehicles. It did not give a figure for army casualties.
A military officer who survived told the Associated Press he saw at least 20 fellow soldiers dead. Several commanders were reported wounded or missing, and local reports said army vehicles withdrew towards the Bali-Dogle airbase. None of the figures could be independently verified.
Military analyst Samira Gaid told AFP that troops moving along a narrow, muddy road through a known insurgent area were hit by repeated suicide attacks, and that the movement had not been well planned.
The attack comes as international donors cut support to Somalia’s security forces. Local media reported that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud cancelled a planned trip to Russia this week amid the security and political pressure at home.
Sources: Somali Guardian; AFP via The Standard and Arab News; AP; The Copenhagen Post.
