02-07-2025
Ugandan mlitary helicopter crashes at Somalia amid continued peacekeeping efforts
A helicopter belonging to the Ugandan military has crashed at the international airport in Mogadishu, Somalia's capital.
A Ugandan military helicopter crashed at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Emergency services quickly extinguished a fire that erupted after the crash.
Ugandan forces are supporting Somalia in combating the al-Shabaab insurgency alongside African Union peacekeepers.
The helicopter crash at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, has drawn significant attention.
Ahmed Maalim, the head of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, confirmed to the BBC that at least eight individuals were on board the ill-fated aircraft.
While the exact number of casualties remains undetermined at this time, an ongoing investigation aims to shed light on the incident.
Maalim further elaborated that the helicopter had come from the Balidogle airbase, located in the Lower Shabelle region, before it ultimately crashed within the military section of the airport.
Prompt action by emergency services was crucial, as a fire erupted upon impact.
A report from the state-run news agency confirmed that these services were able to quickly extinguish the fire, preventing further damage or harm.
"We heard the blast and saw smoke and flames over a helicopter. The smoke entirely covered the helicopter," Farah Abdulle, one of the airport staff, told Reuters news agency.
The primary objective of the current investigation is to ascertain the precise cause of this accident.
Authorities are meticulously examining all available evidence to determine what led to the crash, ensuring that appropriate measures can be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
Uganda and Somalia's fight against insurgency
Ugandan forces have been heavily involved in assisting Somalia's government in combating the al-Shabab group, which has been fighting a bloody insurgency and is affiliated with al-Qaeda.
