It was a day that shook the entire nation. On May 26, gunmen attacked the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Buulo Mareer, approximately 120km southwest of Mogadishu in Lower Shabelle region. The attack, which was later claimed by the Al-Shabaab militia, sent shockwaves across Uganda, particularly among those who have relatives serving in the military.
The purpose of this article is to delve into the attack’s aftermath and its implications for Uganda’s security and politics. We will answer the essential questions of what happened, what is at stake, and what the future holds.
WHAT HAPPENED
On that fateful day, a senior Ugandan military commander is among the dead from explosions at Friday dawn at Buulo Mareer, and several others sustained injuries. The base, which housed roughly 200 soldiers, was a critical base for Ugandan troops and other African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces battling the Al-Shabaab extremist group in the country. The attackers infiltrated the base using a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) and a suicide bomber, resulting in a massive explosion that created a passage for the militants to enter the base.
Who are the Al-Shabaab militants, and what are their motives? The group was founded in Somalia in 2006 and aims to overthrow the Western-backed Somali government and establish Islamic law. In recent years, the group has extended its reach to the neighboring countries, carrying out various attacks in Kenya and Uganda. The group’s recent attack on the ATMIS base is believed to be a response to the series of successful ground and air attacks AMISOM troops carried out against the militants in the Lower Shabelle region.
Within hours of the attack, Al Shabaab claimed in a statement, that it had killed “Ugandan crusaders” as well as inflicted destruction and seizure of military vehicles and capture of the base’s cache of weapons and ammunition.
By press time, Uganda Peoples Defence Forces spokesman Brig-Gen Felix Kulayigye could not confirm the casualty figures, as the army leadership in Kampala was still crosschecking with Atmis headquarters for details.
“We don’t know the figure yet but it’s unfortunate,” he said.
But Strategic Intelligence Service, a site that releases counterterrorism and security intelligence alerts off its Twitter handle @CTNSIS, put the figure at more than 50 soldiers.
The attack comes a fortnight after unconfirmed reports that the UPDF lost five soldiers in an ambush in Lower Shabelle region, claims Brig-Gen Kulayigye dismissed as untrue.
These FOBs in Lower Shabelle have bequeathed horror and scars on the AU troops fighting to liberate Somalia from the militants, as they patrol the roads and nearby towns to secure military supply routes and stop the threat of Al Shabaab.
The UPDF has been on the receiving end of deadly raids on its bases but none as big as the Friday attack at Buulo Mareer.
In 2015, an explosion went off at dawn in Janaale, when a suicide bomber drove an explosive laden vehicle and overran the quarter guard of the then Amisom detachment manned by Uganda troops. That attack, blamed on command and operational lapses, would leave 19 UPDF soldiers dead.
Other troop-contributing countries, Burundi and Kenya, have also suffered heavy casualties in terrorist attacks by the militants despite the efforts of international partners, including the US, European Union and the United Kingdom, to weaken Al Shabaab.
The deadly attack on Ugandan troops came a day after the US Department of State designated five key Shabaab leaders Specially Designated Global Terrorists under Executive Order 13224; they are Maxamed Siidow, Cali Yare, Maxamed Dauud Gabaane, Suleiman Cabdi Daoud, with roles that include financing and intelligence gathering and coordinating attacks, among others.
“The United States reaffirms its commitment to supporting Somalia and its East African partners in the relentless fight against the Al Qaeda affiliated Harakat al-Shabaab al Mujahideen terrorist group. By designating five key Al Shabaab leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, the US Department of State aims to disrupt their operations and protect the interests of the Somali government and its people, besides stemming down threat they pose in the region,” the order said.
SECURITY IMPLICATIONS
The Ugandan military has vowed to retaliate against the Al-Shabaab militants following the attack. However, there are growing concerns that the retaliatory attack might fuel more violence from the extremist group, bringing to question Uganda’s security strategy.
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS
The Ugandan government has in the past been on Al-Shabaab’s crosshairs, given the country’s participation in the fight against the extremist group in Somalia. The attack’s timing, which comes amid a charged political climate in Uganda, is likely to have far-reaching implications. While the government has been commended for its efforts in achieving progress in the Somali conflict, there have been calls to withdraw Ugandan troops from the country. Further, the opposition has seized the opportunity to question the government’s commitment to keep Ugandan soldiers safe and secure within and outside the country.
THE FUTURE
The attack on the ATMIS base is a significant setback for AMISOM troops and Uganda’s military force. The attack is also a warning shot to other countries contributing troops to the Somali conflict. International organizations like the African Union have condemned the attack and called on the Somali government to do more to prevent such attacks in the future. Uganda, against this backdrop, must come up with a robust retaliatory strategy while putting measures in place to secure its troops.
CONCLUSION
The attack on the ATMIS base in Somalia sent shockwaves across Uganda and the rest of the region. Uganda’s security must come up with sound policies that ensure the safety and security of Ugandan troops serving in and outside the country. As we mourn the soldiers who lost their lives in the attack, we must also call on the government to do more to protect the country’s security interests.
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