New York: The top United Nations official in Somalia, along with the members of the UN Security Council, strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack on a hotel in Mogadishu that resulted in the death of many civilians, including the Somali Federal Government’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, Ambassador Yousuf Bari-Bari.
“I condemn this terrorist attack in Mogadishu in the strongest terms and am appalled by the complete disregard for the lives of innocent civilians shown by the attackers,” said Nicholas Kay, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).
“He (Bari-Bari) will be remembered for his strong personal commitment to protecting and promoting human rights for all,” said the UNSOM chief, adding: “At this difficult time, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the Federal Government, the family and friends of all those who died or were injured.”
On Saturday, Al Shabab militants stormed the Makkah Al Mukarama hotel in Mogadishu at least 18 people.
Clashes between the militants and security forces resulted in six Al Shabab men deaths as well as one security officer.
The attack started around 4 p.m. Friday when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden car at the gate of the hotel. Gunmen then quickly moved in.
Hours later, the militants were still holed up in the hotel’s dark corridors and rooms. Sporadic gunfire could be heard, but it appeared that the security forces waited until daybreak before trying again to dislodge the militants.
The attack was condemned by the African Union mission to Somalia in which troops from several African countries support Somalia’s weak government.
“Our message to the perpetrators of this inhuman act is, that their action will not dampen our spirit for the common good of Somalia, but will further strengthen us to work even harder to defeat the enemy of peace and development, with the aim of rebuilding a stronger and stable Somalia,” said Ambassador Maman S. Sidikou, the African Union’s representative in Somalia.
US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf praised the Somali forces “for their response to this terrorist attack” and pledged support for the government’s efforts to “bring stability, security, and prosperity to all Somalis.”
Al Shabab frequently carries out suicide bombings, drive-by shootings and other attacks in Mogadishu, the seat of Somalia’s Western-backed government, often targeting government troops, lawmakers and foreigners.
Despite major setbacks in 2014, Al Shabab continues to wage a deadly insurgency against Somalia’s government and remains a threat in the East African region.
The group has carried out attacks in neighboring countries, including Kenya, whose military is part of the African Union troops bolstering Somalia’s weak government from al-Shabab insurgency.
At least 67 people were killed in a September 2013 attack by al-Shabab on a mall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.
