BAIDOA, Somalia – A roadside bomb explosion has ripped through an African Union armoured personell carrier near Baidoa town, some 250km southwest of Somali capital Mogadishu.
The blast targeted military vehicle carrying Ethiopian forces serving under African Union mission in Somalia, killing 5 soldiers, local radio Risaala reported.
An armoured vehicle was destroyed in the bomb explosion, according to Risaala.
Monday’s explosion also injured scores of other soldiers on board.
There was no immediate comment from African Union mission over the bomb attack.
The blast was claimed by Al Qaeda inspired group of Al Shabaab through its website.
The group says the blast killed and injured number of Ethiopian soldiers while traveling between Bardale and Baidoa towns.
The Al-Shabab has been waging an insurgency in Somalia for more than 10 years.
A 22,000-strong African Union force is in the country to help the government fight the al-Qaeda-linked militants.
The group has been driven out of many urban areas since 2011, however it still controls territory in rural areas and carries out gun attacks and bombings on military and civilian targets.
