Al-Shabab militants raid UN base in Somalia
Source: BBC NEWS
However, the World Food Programme insists that the base was empty and the move would not affect its operations.
In February al-Shabab ordered the WFP to leave the country, saying Somalis should buy food from local farmers.
Aid agencies say that up to half the population needs food aid.
Al-Shabab controls much of southern Somalia, while the UN-backed government is only in charge of a small part of the capital, Mogadishu.
 Islamist fighters control much of southern Somalia |
A hardline Islamist Somali militant group has taken over a United Nations compound in the south of the country.
The fighters from the al-Shabab group, which is linked to al-Qaeda, disarmed guards at the base in Wajid near Baidoa, a BBC reporter says. However, the World Food Programme insists that the base was empty and the move would not affect its operations.
In February al-Shabab ordered the WFP to leave the country, saying Somalis should buy food from local farmers.
Aid agencies say that up to half the population needs food aid.
Al-Shabab controls much of southern Somalia, while the UN-backed government is only in charge of a small part of the capital, Mogadishu.
Comments