Mogadishu (KAAB TV) – A suicide car bomb struck a convoy of Ugandan peacekeepers and Somali soldiers engaged in an offensive against Al‑Shabaab near Afgoye town, around 90 km southwest of Mogadishu.
The attack killed at least 14 Ugandan UPDF (Uganda People’s Defence Forces) peacekeepers and six Somali National Army (SNA) troops.
The troops had been moving to retake strategic towns—including Sabiid and Anole—vital for securing supply lines to Mogadishu. However, their advance was halted by Al‑Shabaab’s explosive ambush and the destruction of key bridges in the region
Al‑Shabaab claimed responsibility for the bombing, releasing footage and statements confirming the convoy attack. They also reportedly sabotaged infrastructure to impede AU/UPDF reinforcements.
The attack represents a major setback to the AU-support mission (AUSSOM), which replaced ATMIS at the start of 2025 and continues efforts to strengthen Somalia’s self‑defense capabilities.
Denial of access via destroyed bridges increases vulnerability of peacekeepers to further sabotage.
AUSSOM and Somali forces have vowed to continue anti‑terror operations, condemning the bombing as a brutal tactic designed to derail stabilization efforts.
Uganda’s government is coordinating with AU officials to assess casualties and reinforce convoy protocols.
Ugandan peacekeepers have long been frontline actors in African Union missions in Somalia.
Previous Al‑Shabaab attacks—such as the May 26, 2023 assault on Bulo Marer that killed 54 UPDF soldiers—highlight the group’s continued capability to inflict significant losses on AU forces