Peacekeepers killed in helicopter crash in Somalia (VIDEO)
The Mi-24 helicopter, operated by the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF), was carrying eight people – including six crew members – and was on a routine combat escort mission when it crashed at 07:30 local time on Wednesday, according to military spokesman Felix Kulaigye.
'The pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer survived the crash but sustained serious injuries and severe burns,' Kulaigye said in a statement. Three civilians who were injured as a result of a detonation of onboard munitions, which caused significant damage to nearby structures, are currently receiving treatment alongside the surviving crew members, he added.
An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the crash, Kulaigye said.
The statement did not clarify whether the personnel were all Ugandan troops, who are serving with the more than 11,000-strong African Union peacekeeping force, known as AUSSOM. The mission supports the Somali government in its fight against the Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group, which has waged a brutal insurgency in the East African country for over two decades. Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Kenya also contribute troops to the mission.
Flight disruption including Turkish Airlines flight (bound for Mogadishu) diversion to Nairobi after a military helicopter crashed and caught fire at Aden Adde Airport earlier today.An AUSSOM military helicopter with eight personnel on board crashed while landing at Mogadishu's… pic.twitter.com/WV1NPB5wwg
AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has expressed his 'profound sorrow at the tragic loss' of the five peacekeepers and extended his 'deepest condolences' to the families of the victims.
He also declared the continental body's commitment to 'ensuring that the sacrifice of these brave peacekeepers continues to advance the cause of peace, stability, and security in Somalia.'
The crash adds to a series of helicopter incidents involving African Union forces in Somalia. Early last month, a helicopter manned by Burundian troops came down during an evacuation flight in the Middle Shabelle region. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility, saying it had shot down the aircraft, but AUSSOM reported that the helicopter was forced to land after it 'experienced a technical malfunction.' All crew members survived. Last September, another helicopter carrying peacekeepers, including Ugandan troops, went down near Mogadishu, with no casualties reported. In February 2023, an AU helicopter crashed during a training exercise in the Lower Shabelle region, killing three people and injuring eight others.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
11 hours ago
- Russia Today
UN rejects parallel government in Sudan
The UN Security Council has rejected the announcement by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) regarding the formation of a parallel governing authority in territories under their control. Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by fierce fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), with both factions vying for control amid a stalled transition to civilian rule. 'The members of the Security Council unequivocally reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan,' the UN's press service reported on Wednesday. The UN called on both sides 'to resume talks to reach a lasting ceasefire and create the necessary conditions for a political resolution on the conflict.' The statement noted Resolution 2736 (2024), which demands that the RSF lift its siege of El Fasher and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in and around the city, where famine and severe food insecurity are at risk of spreading rapidly. Wednesday's announcement comes after a Sudanese political bloc, allied with the RSF, declared a parallel government in July. The Sudan Founding Alliance named RSF chief General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo as chairman of a 15-member presidential council that includes regional governors. Last month, the African Union, Arab League, and Saudi Arabia also condemned the RSF for declaring a rival government. The African Union's Peace and Security Council warned the move could deepen Sudan's two-year civil war between the RSF and the national army, urging states and the international community not to recognize the parallel administration. The SAF has denounced the 'so-called militia government' as a ploy by the RSF to deceive its allies, while its true intent is to seize power for personal gain. The Arab League called the move a 'blatant challenge' to the Sudanese people's will and an attempt to impose a fait accompli by force, warning it posed a serious threat to regional stability.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
Two million illegal firearms circulate in South Africa
South African opposition party Rise Mzansi has warned that an estimated two million illegal firearms are in circulation across the country, posing a serious threat to public safety. The party has criticised the South African Police Service (SAPS) for failing to track the specific makes of firearms used in crimes properly, a shortfall it says undermines crime analysis and detection efforts. In a written parliamentary reply to Rise Mzansi, the Minister of Police revealed that SAPS's Enhanced Firearms Register System (EFRS) does not capture the specific makes of firearms, only their types, such as handguns, shotguns, or rifles. This means the system was unable to identify weapons like the AK-47s, Norincos, or AKMs, all of which have reportedly been used in violent crimes across South Africa. Rise Mzansi Member of Parliament and National Assembly Caucus Whip, Makashule Gana, said the lack of detailed firearm data hampers the country's ability to track and remove illegal weapons from communities. 'Currently, the data provided in the EFRS can only differentiate in terms of firearm types (handgun, shotgun or rifle), not makes (AK47, Norinco, AKM),' the Minister of Police stated in response to the party's questions. Rise Mzansi submitted a series of questions to the Minister in an attempt to determine how prevalent the AK-47 is in the commission of crimes, citing widespread reports of the weapon's use in violent incidents, including cash-in-transit heists, political killings, and mass shootings. The AK-47 is prohibited under the South African Firearms Control Act, yet continues to appear at crime scenes, said Gana. 'These guns should not be on the streets!' Gana said, warning that an estimated two million illegal firearms are circulating in South Africa. 'None of us is safe,' he said. The party has called on SAPS to boost its crime intelligence capacity and develop systems to identify and confiscate illegal weapons more effectively. It has also urged the government to expand national firearms amnesties and introduce an anonymous reward system for tip-offs about illegal firearms. Gana stressed the need for harsh consequences for those involved in the illegal firearm trade. He also raised concerns about police officers being implicated in the theft and resale of confiscated guns, some of which have been linked to murders and gang violence. 'The negligent loss of a SAPS-issued firearm must be a dismissible offence, for which senior SAPS officers must be held accountable. ''Between 1 October 2023 and 31 March 2024, SAPS reported the loss or theft of 371 firearms and 29,128 rounds of ammunition,'' Gana said. Rise Mzansi has vowed to raise the issue at the next available meeting of the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on published by IOL
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
African state denies talks on resettling Palestinians
South Sudan has denied claims that it is in talks with Israel to resettle Palestinians from war-torn Gaza to the East African nation. Reports indicate that West Jerusalem is seeking agreements with third countries to accept people displaced from the besieged enclave. The Associated Press reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter, that Israel had engaged South Sudan in discussions as part of a broader push to facilitate mass emigration from the territory, which has been devastated by the 22-month offensive against Hamas. The South Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a statement on Wednesday saying the reports are 'baseless and do not reflect the official position or policy of the government.' 'South Sudan firmly refutes recent media reports claiming that the government …is engaged in discussion with the State of Israel regarding the resettlement of Palestinian nationals from Gaza in South Sudan,' the ministry stated. Israeli forces have been carrying out an offensive in Gaza since 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 captives. Official estimates put the enclave's death toll at over 61,000, while the UN warns more than 2 million residents face famine. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump proposed moving Gazans to other countries as part of a plan to turn the region into a 'Riviera of the Middle East.' Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a supporter of the idea, said Israel would pursue a full military takeover of Gaza before handing it to a transitional Arab government. Critics say the move would amount to forced displacement, while the UN has called it ethnic cleansing. Last Thursday, the Financial Times reported that US advisory firm Boston Consulting Group had modeled relocating about a quarter of all Palestinians to other countries, including Somalia. In March, Somalia and its breakaway region, Somaliland, denied receiving any such proposal from the US or Israel. On Wednesday, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit's office said he met Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel for 'high-level' talks on strengthening ties in energy, agriculture, healthcare, security, and water management.
