A Ugandan military helicopter carrying eight personnel crashed on Monday at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, prompting an emergency response and raising concerns over the safety of regional peacekeeping missions. The incident occurred in the military section of the airport shortly after the aircraft arrived from Balidogle Airbase in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region.
According to Ahmed Maalim, the head of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, the cause of the crash remains unclear and an official investigation is currently underway. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by flames and thick plumes of black smoke rising from the crash site. Airport staff described a chaotic scene, with the helicopter engulfed in smoke shortly after impact. Somali state media confirmed that a fire had broken out following the crash but was swiftly contained by airport emergency services.
Initial reports did not confirm any fatalities or injuries, and there is still no official word on the status of the eight individuals on board. Authorities are expected to release more information as the investigation progresses.
The Ugandan military is part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a multinational peacekeeping force tasked with supporting the Somali government in combating the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab insurgency. Uganda contributes one of the largest contingents to the mission, which has been instrumental in reclaiming territory from the extremist group and stabilizing parts of the country.
The crash highlights the operational risks faced by AU troops as they conduct aerial and ground missions across Somalia’s volatile regions. Balidogle Airbase, the helicopter’s point of origin, is a key military installation used by Somali and allied forces, including international partners involved in counter-terrorism operations.
As the investigation continues, questions remain about the technical condition of the aircraft, weather conditions at the time of the crash, and whether hostile activity played any role. Security analysts are closely monitoring developments, given the strategic importance of the airport and the sensitive nature of ongoing anti-insurgency efforts.
This incident comes at a time when the Somali government and AU forces are intensifying military operations against al-Shabab, aiming to secure long-term peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. The crash may prompt a review of aviation safety protocols and operational readiness within the peacekeeping mission.
More details are expected from both Ugandan and Somali authorities in the coming days as the investigation unfolds.
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