Five African Union peacekeepers in Somalia have been arrested for allegedly trying to sell military supplies in the capital, Mogadishu.
Somali security forces, along with troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), say they conducted a raid at a garage in which AU soldiers allegedly were trying to sell military supplies, including ammunition boxes, fuel and sandbags.
"AMISOM exercises zero tolerance to unprofessional conduct among its personnel, and the culprits will be prosecuted in accordance with the law," AMISOM said Monday. It said the mission in Somalia — a 22,000-member force — "will not be derailed by the selfish acts of a few of its members."
AMISOM did not reveal the nationality of the soldiers, but promised that it will "ensure that this practice is uprooted from within its ranks."
The AU troops are helping Somalia's government fight an insurgency by the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab.
AU and Somali government forces have pushed al-Shabab out of most Somali cities and towns. However, the al-Qaida-linked group still launches periodic raids and suicide attacks, and also has carried out attacks in several neighboring countries.