ADDIS ABABA (Xinhua) — The African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have condemned a terrorist attack by the al-Shabab militant group that targeted a prison facility in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.
In a statement issued late Sunday, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf “strongly condemned the terrorist attack carried out by al-Shabab” on Saturday on the Godka Jilicow prison facility in Mogadishu, which resulted in the loss of lives and left several others wounded.
Somali security forces on Saturday thwarted the al-Shabab attack on the country’s high-security prison, killing seven militants, the government said Sunday. The attackers, dressed in military-style uniforms and driving a pickup truck painted with security service insignia, launched the assault around 4:40 p.m. local time. They detonated an explosive-laden vehicle at the gate before attempting to storm the facility on foot.
Expressing condolences to the government and people of Somalia, Youssouf emphasized “the full solidarity and the unfaltering commitment of the African Union to neutralize the pervasive threat posed by terrorism and violent extremism in Somalia, the Horn of Africa region and the entire continent.”
He said the role of the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) remains highly pivotal to the counter-terrorism agenda, by working closely with the Somali security forces in joint operations, for the restoration of peace and stability in the country.
The AUC chief called on all African countries, including troop and police contributing countries, and the broader international community to intensify support to Somalia and the AUSSOM to effectively degrade and eliminate al-Shabab and other terrorist groups in Somalia.
In a separate statement issued Sunday, the East African bloc, IGAD, also condemned the attack. Noting that the “swift and decisive” response of Somali security forces prevented further loss of life by neutralizing the assailants, IGAD commended the “professionalism and courage of Somalia’s security personnel whose quick response averted greater tragedy.”
It said the attack, coming shortly after significant territorial gains by the Somali National Army in the Lower Shabelle region and the elimination of senior al-Shabab operatives through targeted operations, underscores the group’s growing desperation and the effectiveness of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
Conveying solidarity with Somalia, IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu said the attack “will not shake Somalia’s courage or our region’s resolve. IGAD stands firmly with the people and government of Somalia in the fight against terror and in pursuit of lasting peace and stability.”
Source: Xinhua
