Al-Shabaab mortar fire kills three children from same family

The attack comes hours after the army’s 27th division carried out an operation against Al-Shabaab in the rural areas in the east and south of the Hiran region which is set to host elections.

News Keydmedia Online
2 December 2021

BEELDWEYNE, Somalia – At least three children from one family have lost their lives in Al-Shabaab mortar shelling on AU military base in central Somalia on Wednesday night.

Local residents in Beledweyne have confirmed to KON that the terror group has fired a salvo of mortar rounds towards the Djiboutian army camp the west of the city during the late night.

“A mortar shell struck a residential house near the base, killing three children and wounding two others, all belonging to one family while they were asleep,” said a resident.

The Djiboutian forces serving under the UN-mandated African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] responded to the attack with heavy artillery and small arms to avert a direct attack.

HirShabelle state which controls the city is yet to issue a statement regarding the civilian deaths resulting from the Al-Shabaab mortar bombs.

The shelling comes hours after the army’s 27th division carried out an operation on Al-Shabaab in the areas in the east and south of the Hiran region which is set to host election.

Farmajo team is plotting to move the election of Lower House seats set to hold in Beledweyne to the capital, Mogadishu in an attempt to produce pro-Villa Somalia lawmakers.

HirShabelle state leader Ali Gudlawe, a Farmajo crony has never visited Beledweyne since his election in November 2020 due to a dispute over the power-sharing model among the clans.

KEYDMEDIA English