Dozens of Rebels Seize UN Compound in Somalia

By Abdinasir Mohamed Guled

Apr 8, 2010

Story Highlights

Al-Shabaab storms World Food Programme compound

Heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters have taken over the World Food Programme compound in the southwestern town of Wajid, residents said Thursday.

The militants disarmed bodyguards, taking all equipment and computers and turned the compound into an military base.

"They entered the compound early this morning and took everything," Mohamed Sayid Abdi, a resident in Wajid, told Tiziano by phone.

"It looked like a planned operation on the compound," Abdi said, referring to the dozens of fighters who stormed inside.

Wajid is 340 kilometers west of Somalia's capital of Mogadishu and is in the Bakool region, which is an Al-Shabaab stronghold.

In February of this year, Al-Shabaab ordered the World Food Programme to leave Somalia. Later, a report was released that diversion of food to militants had greatly hindered the WFP's operation.

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