DJIBOUTI, (Xinhua) — The bodies of six Djiboutian soldiers killed Monday in Somalia have been repatriated to the Red Sea country.

The soldiers died in their vehicle targeted by Al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia’s central town of Bulo-Burde, where they were deployed under the auspices of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The attack also left seven Djiboutian soldiers injured.

The bodies were received at the airport on Thursday afternoon by Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, accompanied by senior government and military officials, as well as family members of the slain soldiers.

In response to the worst attack targeting Djiboutian troops since their deployment to Somalia three years ago under AMISOM, President Guelleh reiterated the determination to help pacify and reconstruct Somalia.

The AMISOM mission comprises thousands of soldiers from African countries, including 1,000 peacekeepers from Djibouti, which is preparing to send a second contingent to the Horn of African country.

Source: Xinhua