MOGADISHU (SD) – Al-Shabaab militants have launched a major offensive against the African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) base in El Baraf, killing several Burundian soldiers at a military base.

The attack enabled Al Shabaab to capture the ATMIS military base in El Baraf, leading to heavy casualties among the Burundian troops.

A senior Burundian army official told AFP that 30 soldiers had been killed, 22 wounded and many more are missing.

ATMIS reportedly sent helicopters following an early morning attack on a Burundian military base near El-Baraf.

Reports from the ATMIS Burundian forces say about 400 al-Shabaab fighters have entered the base after detonating two car bombs.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, which claimed killed 173 soldiers and wounded dozens more.