by Hashi
MOGADISHU, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Somalia militant group Al-Shabaab on Friday captured an African Union peacekeeping mission base in Lego town in lower Shabelle region in the south of the country after Burundian contingent withdrew early in the morning, officials said.
A Somali military official who declined to be named confirmed to Xinhua that the AU's Lego base is now under Al-Shabaab militants while Burundian troops and Somalia National Army (SNA) vacated from the base.
"African Union peacekeeping troops from Burundian emptied their biggest military base today, I cannot tell the reason but I can confirm their withdrawal from Lego base in lower Shabelle region," the official said.
Heavily armed Al-Shabaab militants immediately moved in Lego town after the troops' withdrawal, according to eyewitnesses.
Al-Shabaab militants celebrated the withdrawal of the AU troops from Lego base in Lower Shabelle as a great victory to their fighters.
Dozens of AMISOM Burundian contingent were killed in June 2015 after Al-Shabaab fighters raided their base in Lego. The group claimed they killed over 50 soldiers there.
The group has carried out deadliest attacks at African Union peacekeeping troops in Lego and Janale in Lower Shabelle region, El-Adde in Gedo region and Kulbiyow base in Lower Jubba region in southern Somalia in the past three years.
