Somalia: Aussom Denies That a Helicopter Was Shot Down At Xawaadley Area By Al-Shabaab

Mogadishu — The African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) reports that Burundian troops have been evacuated. They were stationed at Xawaadley Forward Operating Base, northeast of Mogadishu. This evacuation was necessary due to heavy flooding in the area.

On Monday, one helicopter had a technical malfunction during the evacuation. Despite this issue, the pilots managed to land safely. All troops and crew were successfully evacuated to a nearby military base. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

AUSSOM praised the Burundian soldiers for their preparedness. Their readiness ensured a smooth and safe evacuation. Kareem Adebayo, Acting Special Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson for Somalia, stated, "We commend the swift action of the AUSSOM Burundian troops." He reaffirmed support for the people and government of Somalia amid flooding challenges.