MOGADISHU —Somali Islamist group says its fighters launched an ambush attack on Ugandan armored personnel carriers with African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.
The surprise attack happened in Marka town, some 91km southwest of Somali capital Mogadishu, after African Union troops came under attack by Al Shabaab.
The group says it has killed at least 15 Ugandan soldiers serving under African Union peacekeeping mission.
“We have killed 15 Ugandan soldiers after an ambush attack in Marka town. We lost no fighter during the assault”, the group said.
There was no immediate comment from African Union mission in Somalia over the claims.
The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab extremist group often carries out deadly attacks against Somalia and African Union troops.
The group also carried out bombings in high-profile areas of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, and elsewhere.
The Islamist militant group al-Shabaab, which battled for control of the capital from 2006 on-wards, banned forms of public entertainment like movies and musical ringtones in areas under their sway.
Somalia has been mired in turmoil since warlords toppled dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, leaving militants, militia groups and clan leaders all fighting for control of parts of the anarchic country.
