A military helicopter, operating under the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, tragically crashed on Wednesday at Mogadishu’s airport. According to reliable sources, at least three individuals have been confirmed deceased, reports from the scene indicate.
The helicopter was inbound from Balli-doogle Airfield, located in the Lower Shabelle region, with eight souls on board. Artan Mohamed, the head of the immigration office at Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle airport, confirmed the grim toll. It has been reported that the aircraft was initially part of the Ugandan Air Force but had been repurposed for the African Union peacekeeping mission.
The African Union mission, known as AUSSOM, is instrumental in assisting Somali authorities to counter al-Shabab, an extremist group that vehemently opposes the presence of foreign troops in the Horn of Africa nation. The mission is comprised of troop contributions from countries including Uganda and Kenya.
Ahmed Moalim Hassan, director-general of the Somalia Civil Aviation Authority, informed state media that investigations are currently underway to ascertain the full extent of casualties and damage. “Once the situation is under control and the fire is extinguished by the firefighters, we will know more,” he stated. Omar Farah, an aviation officer who was among the first to arrive at the wreckage, described the helicopter as “spinning and then it fell very fast.”
Reports indicate that minor delays were experienced at the airport, but all flights and operations have since resumed. This development follows earlier reports of the peacekeeping mission’s ongoing battle against extremist elements in the region.
The significance of this should not be overlooked, as investigations continue, we are reminded once more of the risks faced by peacekeeping missions worldwide.