Al-shabab fighters killed two lawmaker of Hirshabelle parliament, one government official five bodyguards in an ambush attack that occurred near Bal’ad district in Middle Shabelle region.
The attack occurred at El-gellow village in the road linking Bal’ad and Jowhar district. The two MPs killed during attack were identified as Ismail Mumin and Dahir Mukhtar.
The convoy that was travelling to Mogadishu came under attack near Bal’ad which prompted to a brief fight where sides exchanged heavy gunfire that lasted for more 20 minutes.
Al-shabab fighters carry out similar attacks targeting government officials, AMISOM troops that ply along the road linking the main town in Hirshabelle state.
Early March this year, At least five African Union troops were killed in an ambush attack in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region by Al-Shabab fighters.
The ambush targeted Burundian soldiers escorting a convoy of trucks loaded with supplies near Balad, 30 kilometers north of Mogadishu.
The vice president of Burundi, Gaston Sindimwo, confirmed for VOA that at least five Burundi soldiers, serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), had been killed in the ambush attack.
Al-Shabab said it had killed more than 20 AU soldiers, but military officials said that figure was exaggerated.
It was not immediately clear whether the convoy was carrying AU military supplies or humanitarian aid.
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