Five soldiers from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) died in a military aircraft crash at Mogadishu International Airport in Somalia on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
The aircraft was on a mission under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) when it attempted to land at the airport but crashed severely, according to UPDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye.
Three other soldiers aboard the plane survived but sustained serious injuries, including severe burns.
Kulayigye stated that the crash also caused an explosion of ammunition on board, which damaged nearby structures and injured three civilians.
The AUSSOM mission confirmed that rescue operations and recovery of aircraft debris were immediately launched.
An airport worker named Farah Abdulle told Reuters: “We heard a loud noise, then saw smoke and flames rising above the plane.”
AUSSOM currently has over 11,000 troops in Somalia, tasked with supporting efforts to defeat al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked militant group that has been waging war against Somalia’s internationally recognized government for over 15 years.
