Mogadishu, Somalia – Al-Shabaab released photos on Monday purporting to show the wreckage of an African Union (AU) helicopter they claim to have shot down near Xawaadley, a village approximately 91 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu.
The images, shared through pro-Al-Shabaab channels, depict what appears to be debris from a military aircraft. The militant group claimed responsibility for bringing down the helicopter in the Middle Shabelle region.
However, the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) swiftly rejected the claim, stating that the helicopter experienced a “technical malfunction” during routine operations.
AUSSOM confirmed that all crew members were safely evacuated to the nearest AU base without casualties.
“There is no indication the aircraft was targeted by hostile fire,” an AUSSOM spokesperson said.
The incident comes amid increasing AU troop handovers to Somali forces under a new mission structure, AUSSOM, which replaced ATMIS as part of a phased withdrawal.
Security analysts warn that al-Shabaab may attempt to exploit such incidents for propaganda as the group faces military pressure in central and southern Somalia.