Ugandan Military Court Finds Officers Guilty of Cowardice in Al-Shabab Attack
A Uganda犀利士 n military court has rendered a verdict of guilt against Majors Zadock Abor and John Oluka for cowardice during an assault by Islamist fighters on an African Union base in Bulo Marer, Somalia, in May. The attack, orchestrated by al-Shabab, claimed the lives of at least 50 Ugandan soldiers and marked one of the deadliest incidents for the African Union force, Atmis.
Uganda, part of the African Union mission aiding Somalia’s fight against al-Shabab, faced criticism from President Yoweri Museveni for its military response to the assault. The military court in Mogadishu heard that Majors Abor and Oluka had prior warning of the impending attack but failed to take preventive action.
As al-Shabab militants overran the base, the officers reportedly did not rally their troops and instead retreated to another base. The court’s decision resulted in the dismissal of both officers from the army. Additionally, four non-commissioned officers were found guilty of neglecting to protect military equipment.
The African Union force, comprising 19,000 troops, has been deployed in Somalia since 2007, contributing to the expulsion of al-Shabab from numerous cities. While the force is scheduled to hand over security responsibilities to Somalia’s government forces and withdraw next year, the ongoing offensive against al-Shabab faces challenges, with the group maintaining control over many rural areas in the country.
