Somalia: Attack at Mogadishu International Airport

A mortar attack within the perimeter of Mogadishu International Airport has resulted in the death of two soldiers and the wounding of a third, all serving with the African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). The airport complex, which houses the African Union mission alongside the EU, UN and various foreign diplomatic missions, has suffered several attacks this year, largely due to the ongoing threat from al-Shabaab and Daesh/ISIS factions. In a statement, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, the African Union’s Special Representative for Somalia, condemned the incident and underlined ATMIS’s firm commitment to countering terrorism and promoting peace in Somalia. The ATMIS leadership conducted an on-site assessment following the attack and offered condolences to the families of the victims, while reiterating its support to the Somali security forces in their counter-terrorism efforts.