AU vows to pacify Somalia despite attack on its base

The African Union (AU) vowed Friday to continue with efforts to pacify the Horn of Africa nation despite latest attacks on its base in Lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia.

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, and Head of AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Maman Sidikou condemned the attack on its output base in Lego town by Al-Shabaab militants.

"This attack will not dampen our resolve to continue to support the Somali government and people until they are free from terrorism," Sidikou said in a statement released in Mogadishu hours after the dawn attack.

However, the AU envoy did not confirm the number of casualties in the attack, but Lower Shabelle region mayor Abdulkadir Nor Sidi said over 40 people may have been killed from the attack.

In his statement, Sidikou regretted the losses recorded and expressed his solidarity with the government and people of Burundi whose AMISOM soldiers were "affected in this attack." The military base is manned by Burundian soldiers who are part of the AMISOM.

The envoy added that the AU peacekeepers will continue with joint security operations with Somalia National Army to liberate any other part of Somalia under Al-Shabaab domination in order to pacify the entire country.