African force greeted with mortars in Somalia

afrol News, 6 March - The African Union (AU) peacekeepers deployed in the Somalian capital, Mogadishu, have been greeted with mortar attacks. During a welcome ceremony at the Mogadishu airport, unidentified militia fired 8 mortars at the first batch of 400 Ugandan troops under the aegis of the AU.

None of the mortars met the target, although one person was wounded as a result.

The Ugandan government has offered to send 1,500 troops to keep peace in Somalia, a country that does not know peace since 1991.

Shortly before they left for Somalia, the Ugandan troops were asked by their Chief of Staff, General Aronda Nyakairima, to be on alert for all kinds of dangers they were likely to encounter while on the AU mission because there are remnants of Islamists, war-loads and other militia fighters who are yet to integrate in the Somali government.

Insurgency has become common in Somalia after the Islamic Courts Union leadership was ousted by the Ethiopian-backed government forces. It resulted to the killing of several people.

The AU force is expected to replace the Ethiopian troops in Somalia.

In his farewell bid to the Ugandan troops, President Yoweri Museveni asked his soldiers to be wary of meddling with the internal affairs of Somalia. He said they should serve as teachers and trainers of the Somali national army.

Mr Museveni said the Somalian army has the discretion to disarm armed groups and not the Ugandan troops.

The Ugandan troops form part of an 8,000-strong force to be deployed by the AU and the regional East African body – the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) – in Somali to restore law and order there.

President Museveni also argued that his troops are not mandated to impose peace on Somalis. Rather, he advised them to help in the rebuilding of a robust army for the country.

On Tuesday, a gun battle between the Ethiopian-backed interim government forces and masked insurgent group in the Mogadishu killed four and wounded six people. All the victims were believed to be civilians who have been hit by exchange fired bullets.

Angered by a search for weapons in houses close to the former defence ministry compound by the Ethiopian-led troops sparked the clash between the loyal forces and masked insurgents.

The attack, which lasted for some minutes, was described as the first of its kind to happen between insurgents and the Ethiopian troops.