The smell of gunpowder, in Mogadishu under the eyes of Europeans
(BRUSSELS2) With the presence of El Shabab forces above the port of Mogadishu, each entry into the port of Mogadishu is a real challenge. Swedish sailors HMS Carlskrona escorting one of AMISOM's supply ships, the Petra, witnessed it.
On board the flagship of the European anti-piracy operation Atalanta (1) the crew was able, from the control bridge, to see the smoke of the fighting, hear the detonations of weapons and grenade launchers... smell the powder. " It was unreal, it was like watching a movie but it was for real. " recount one of the sailors, Henrik Olofsson. " It is very difficult for the crew of merchant ships to carry out approach maneuvers. Every entry and exit is risky ».
However, the arrival of the Petra was able to take place without incident. Even though AMISOM troops only control a small part of Mogadishu; elsewhere reign the militias in particular El Shabab, the Islamist militia suspected of having links with the terrorists Al-Qaeda. Clashes in the Somali capital on Wednesday left 17 dead and at least 46 injured.
(1) HMS Carlkrona ends its mission in a few days before handing over to the French ship De Grasse.
(NVP)
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