Twin suicide attack at AU military base in Somalia, 14 killed

MOGADISHU, Somalia

Two explosions have hit the entrance of the African Union peacekeeping base in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, claiming the lives of at least 14 people.

“Fourteen people were killed in the attack and between seven and nine others were injured,” Abdisamad Hassan, a Somali member of parliament and former security minister told Anadolu Agency.

He said the attackers targeted members of the country's electoral commission who were meeting near the airport.

“Most of those who died were members of the Somali national army who were guarding the premises where the meeting was taking place,’’ Hassan said, adding that the area attacked was near a base for Ugandan peacekeepers.

An official at Mogadishu International Airport, which is near the country’s most important military base, said two suicide bombers drove cars to the facility before blowing themselves up at the entrance to the base.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that after the explosions clashes broke out between security guards and more attackers who tried to storm the base.

Joe Kibet, spokesman of the African Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM, confirmed the attack but did not give any information on casualties, the Somali National News Agency reported.

In a tweet, the mission said: "AMISOM confirms that there have been 2 bomb explosions at checkpoints near entrances to its base at Halane this morning.

“#AMISOM condemns these senseless attacks that aim to disrupt & cripple the lives of ordinary Somalis. These attacks must be stopped.”

Severe damage was sustained at the entrance of the military camp; nearby buildings were also damaged.

The base houses some UN offices and foreign embassies.

* Anadolu Agency correspondent Hassan Isilow contributed to this report.