According to the source, apparently no shells fell on the regional body’s forward operations base, located in the town of El Baraf, Middle Shabelle region, although preliminary reports indicate that civilians in surrounding areas may have been affected by the shelling.

Al-Shabab’s latest attack occurs took place after last week’s attack on a facility of the African Union Transitional Mission itself in El Baraf, leaving 10 Burundian soldiers dead and several wounded.

Al-Shabab controls large territories in the center and south of the country, and has carried out violent actions against police and Army forces and government officials in recent months.

pgh/llp/mem/obf