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AT least three people have been killed as Somali and African Union forces have regained control of a United Nations compound in the Somali capital Mogadishu, after an hour-and-a-half long gunbattle that followed an explosion at the site, officials say. “The situation is under control now… Somali soldiers along with African Union forces stormed the compound and killed the attackers,” said Somali police official Abdulahi Osman, adding that at least three civilians were killed outside the compound but that there were no initial reports of UN casualties.
The al-Shabab armed group claimed responsibility for the attack.
A plume of thick black smoke was seen billowing into the sky after the initial explosion was heard at approximately 11:30am yesterday.
A UN official, who cannot be named because she is not authorised to speak to the media, said the attack was against a building just outside the secure airport compound where all the UN agencies are based. The compound includes both residential and office areas. UN staff took shelter in a bunker at the compound, UN staff told Al Jazeera.
Nicholas Kay, the UN secretary-general’s special representative to Somalia, confirmed to Al Jazeera that “a complex attack” had taken place at the compound, but that “the vast majority of UN staff” were safe.
“It did begin with an explosion at the main gate followed up by armed attackers entering the compound where they attempted to assault our staff,” he said.
Government-run Radio Mogadishu reported that the attack had started after a suicide bomber blew himself up at one of the gates of the complex.
Somalia’s capital has been hit by a series of attacks including suicide and car bombers, mortar attacks and shootings, although in recent weeks the city has been relatively calm.
Al-Shabab fighters used to control most of the seaside capital until it abandoned fixed positions in August 2011, but the armed group has since carried out a string of attacks against the UN-backed government.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Mogadishu last December and announced that the UN would re-open its offices in the seaside capital.
The UN began the process of moving its personnel from nearby Nairobi, Kenya, back to Mogadishu, a process that has accelerated in recent weeks.
International embassies – from Turkey and Britain, for example — followed.
The 17 000-strong AU force, fighting alongside Somali government troops, has forced al-Shabab from a series of key towns.
Yesterday’s attack, though, underscores the fragile security situation and will force the UN and embassies to review their safety plans and decide if they have enough defences to withstand a sustained al-Shabab assault.
Abdi Farah Shirdon, the Somali prime minister, condemned the “senseless and despicable” attack on Wednesday, saying “the UN are our friends and partners, and the UN agencies offer us humanitarian help and support, so I and all Somalis are appalled that they should be the target and victims of such barbaric violence”. — Al Jazeera
derick.khumalo