... al-Qaeda's tentacle in East Africa....
Reports indicate the helicopter was hit by heavy weapon fire from al-Shabaab fighters, forcing it down. Three personnel on board, believed to be part of the African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), were maimed and have since been captured by the group.
The helicopter was reportedly en route to a military base in Jowhar, the regional capital of Middle Shabelle.
Maqdis is located near Xawaadleey, which fell completely under al-Shabaab control just one day prior. Xawaadleey lies approximately 40 kilometers from the towns of Balcad and Jowhar.
Before al-Shabaab seized the area, Burundian troops serving under AUSSOM and other Somali government forces withdrew following an attack that included al-Shabaab firing from positions near the Shabelle River.
Xawaadleey is a strategic location linking the capital, Mogadishu, to Balcad and Jowhar. Full control by al-Shabaab could hinder government and AUSSOM efforts to maintain connections between these key towns.
There have been multiple instances of aircraft crashes in areas controlled by al-Shabaab, raising concerns among Somalis about the safety and effectiveness of military operations in these Death Eater-held regions.