UN Staff Injured in Attack on UN Compound in Mogadishu

A UN compound was attacked on the Somai capital of Mogadishu on Tuesday.

Four mortar rounds are reported to have landed into Halane base, which is close to the airport in Mogadishu.

Seven mortars landed inside the compound this afternoon, injuring two UN staff members and one contractor. None of the injuries is life-threatening.

The attack is suspected to have been carried out by the Al-Shabaab insurgents although the terror group has not yet claimed responsibility.

The official AMISOM Twitter account said the mortars missed their target.

“A round of mortars were aimed at the Mogadishu International Airport (MIA) compound this afternoon. All of them missed their target and the situation is under control,” AMISOM said in a tweet.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Somalia, Nicholas Haysom, condemned the attack strongly.

Al-Shabaab has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.

“Today’s indirect fire attack on the main UN compound in Mogadishu may amount to a violation of international humanitarian law, and I deplore this unwarranted act of aggression against our personnel,” said Haysom in a statement.

“No political agenda can be served through violence that deliberately targets staff members of international organizations who are supporting the consolidation of peace and the strengthening of governing institutions in Somalia,” he added.