2018 African Union base attack in Bulo Marer
On 1 April 2018, Al-Shabaab fighters attacked an AMISOM base in Bulo Marer in the Lower Shebelle region of Somalia.{{Cite web|url=https://mareeg.com/deadly-bomb-and-gun-attack-hit-african-union-base-in-somalia/|title=Deadly bomb and gun attack hit African Union base in Somalia|website=mareeg.com|access-date=2018-04-02|archive-date=2018-04-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401123942/https://mareeg.com/deadly-bomb-and-gun-attack-hit-african-union-base-in-somalia/|url-status=dead}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = 2018 African Union base attack in Bulo Marer
| partof = Part of Somali Civil War (2009–present)
| date = 1 April 2018
| place = Bulo Marer, Somalia
| result = *Losses on both sides
| combatant1 = {{Flagicon image|AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg}} Al-Shabaab
| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the African Union.svg}} AMISOM
{{flagicon|Somalia}} Federal Government of Somalia
| strength2 = Unknown
| casualties1 = 14 killed {{small|(Al-Shabaab claim)}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/african-union-30-al-shabab-fighters-killed-somalia-attack-180402063208401.html|title=African Union: 30 al-Shabab fighters killed in Somalia attack|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=2018-04-02}}
30 killed {{small|(Ugandan army claim)}}{{Cite web|url=https://aa.com.tr/en/africa/al-shabaab-attack-kills-4-ugandan-troops-in-somalia/1105631|title=Al-Shabaab attack kills 4 Ugandan troops in Somalia|website=Anadolu Agency|access-date=2018-04-02}}
| casualties2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the African Union.svg}}:
4 killed, 6 wounded {{small|(Ugandan army claim)}}
46 killed {{small|(local report)}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/01/al-shabaab-attack-kills-ugandan-soldiers-in-somalia|title=Al-Shabaab attack kills dozens of Ugandan soldiers in Somalia|last=Burke|first=Jason|date=2018-04-01|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-04-02}}
59 killed {{small|(Al-Shabaab claim)}}
{{flagicon|Somalia}}:
1 killed, several wounded {{small|(local report)}}
}}
{{Campaignbox War in Somalia (2009–)}}
Attack
Two trucks filled with explosives blew up at the AMISOM military camp in Bula Marer, 110 km south of Mogadishu. Then about 100 Al-Shabaab militants attacked the base with gunfire.{{Cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/extremists-attack-african-union-base-in-somalia/4326537.html|title=Extremists Attack African Union Base in Southern Somalia|last=Maruf|first=Harun|work=VOA|access-date=2018-04-02|language=en}} Another suicide bomber rammed his vehicle packed with explosives into a military convoy carrying Ugandan soldiers from Golweyn.{{Cite news|url=https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somalia-al-shabaab-raids-au-military-base-kills-59|title=Somalia: Al-Shabaab raids AU military base, kills 59|work=Garowe Online|access-date=2018-04-02|language=en-US}} According to the Deputy Governor of Lower Shabelle region Ali Nur Mohamed, AMISOM troops destroyed the vehicle with a rocket propelled grenade.{{Cite news|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201804020179.html|title=Somalia: Extremists Attack African Union Base in Southern Somalia|last=Maruf|first=Harun|date=2018-04-02|work=Voice of America (Washington, DC)|access-date=2018-04-02}} The militants also attacked a third AMISOM base in Barawe with mortars and launched infantry attacks on two Somali government positions in Qoryoley and Mashallay. These attacks were reportedly intended to distract the troops in those camps from supporting the forces in Bulo Marer. Witnesses said Al-Shabaab terrorists attacked civilians and set houses and shops on fire after they raided the military base.
Ali Nur Mohamed told VOA Somali that AMISOM and Somali troops repulsed all attacks.
Casualties
The death toll was not clear. Uganda People's Defense Force spokesman Richard Karemire said four Ugandan peacekeepers were killed and six AMISOM troops injured. Thirty Al-Shabaab terrorists were killed according to his reports. Al-Shabaab's military operations spokesperson Abdiaziz Abu Mus'ab said that the group lost only 14 fighters and killed at least 59 African Union soldiers. Abdi Nur Hashi, a Somali military colonel stationed near the base, told the Guardian that as many as 46 Ugandan troops died in the attack. One Somali soldier died and several others were injured.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{War in Somalia (2009–)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:African Union base in Bulo Marer, 2018}}
Category:2018 murders in Somalia
Category:Al-Shabaab (militant group) attacks
Category:Terrorist incidents in Somalia in 2018
Category:Somali Civil War (2009–present)
Category:April 2018 crimes in Africa
Category:21st-century mass murder in Somalia
Category:Battles of the Somali Civil War (2009–present)
Category:Battles involving al-Shabaab (militant group)
Category:Foreign relations of the African Union
Category:Attacks on military installations in 2018