The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Sunday condemned the deadly terrorist attack in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
The chairperson “condemns in the strongest terms the horrific terrorist attack that killed more than 100 innocent civilians and wounded many more in Mogadishu, Somalia, on October 29,” an AU statement read.
Twin car bomb explosions targeting Somalia’s Education Ministry building on Saturday killed at least 100 people and injured more than 300 others, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Sunday. The fatalities are likely to rise as several government offices, hotels and restaurants are situated near the bombing site.
The AU Commission chairperson further expressed the African Union’s condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. He conveyed the AU’s solidarity with the government and people of Somalia, at this difficult time.
Faki reaffirmed the continued determination of the continental bloc, including through the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), to support the Somali government and people in their efforts to achieve sustainable peace and security in the country.
He appealed to the international community to redouble efforts to ensure robust international support to Somalia’s institutions in their struggle to defeat terrorists in order to consolidate the key security gains made in recent years. ■
