The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) has clarified the real reason why Burundian troops withdrew from their base in Hawaadley. Contrary to assumptions of a security defeat, the withdrawal was triggered by severe flooding that struck the area.
According to AUSSOM, the heavy floods made it impossible for the troops to remain at the base, prompting an emergency evacuation. Shortly after their departure, the militant group Al-Shabaab re-entered Hawaadley, a location that had been under Federal Government control for several years and had witnessed deadly battles claiming the lives of hundreds of soldiers and military officers.
During the evacuation process, a technical malfunction occurred in one of the helicopters involved. However, AUSSOM reported that the pilots managed to land the aircraft safely without any casualties or damage.
Notably, AUSSOM’s official communication did not mention Al-Shabaab’s recapture of the area. Instead, it emphasized that all personnel were safely relocated to a nearby military base.
The Burundian troops had already been in the process of winding down their role in the AUSSOM mission and are expected to leave Somalia soon, as other forces prepare to take over security responsibilities in the Middle Shabelle region.
Meanwhile, local authorities in Hawaadley also denied that Al-Shabaab had seized the area by force. They confirmed that the floods had inundated the army camps, leading to the decision to evacuate AUSSOM troops for safety reasons.
