Several people among them military officers are feared dead following an ambush by Al-Shabaab militants at Bal'ad town and neighbouring Marka, reports indicate.
The Saturday attack targeted AMISOM troops from different countries among them Kenya, and it caught the army unaware given than a similar attack had been thwarted few days ago.
According to Voice of America journalist Harun Maruf, two civilians were instantly killed at Marka town, where Somalia PM was addressing residents.
The official number of casualties at Bal'ad town is yet to be established, with fierce gunfire reported between the militants and the peace keepers.
"Reports of new ambush by Al-Shabaab militants on AMISOM military convoy in Ilbaq area north of Bal’ad town, casualties not know. Earlier four Hirshabelle regional officials were killed in IED attack in the same vicinity," he said.
"Two civilians killed in Al-Shabaab mortar attack in Marka town. PM Hassan Ali Khaire who visited the town was speaking to locals at the time of attack. One of two mortar rounds landed in a residential area killing two women. The PM has now arrived back in Mogadishu," he added.
The attack comes amid cracks between KDF soldiers and those from Somalia and Ethiopia. Kenya accuses Somalia of sympathising with the militants.
On Friday, Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe, a close ally of KDF, also warned Modadishu administration against interfering with his government, which has Kenyan backing.
Last week, a report indicated that over 1800 soldiers have been killed in Somalia since 2008, with Kenya recording highest number of casualties.