Somalia: Suicide bombing kills nine African Union peacekeepers

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonBan Ki-moon has voiced shock and outrage following today’s suicide bombing at the headquarters of the African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, which has left at least nine troops dead, including the Deputy Force Commander.

Two vehicles, reportedly with United Nations markings on them, were used in the attack on the compound of the AU operation (known as AMISOM), Mr. Ban told reporters today at his monthly press conference in New York.

Media reports indicate that at least nine peacekeepers, including Gen. Juvenile Niyoyunguriza, AMISOM’s Deputy Force Commander, were killed and at least 30 others – including the Force Commander, Gen. Nathan Mugisha – were wounded and have since been evacuated for medical treatment.

“I condemn in strongest possible terms this entirely unacceptable attack on those who are there to help foster peace and I call upon all Somalis to renounce violence and to work with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) towards national reconciliation,” Mr. Ban said in a statement, offering his condolences to the families, contingents and governments of those killed.

“AMISOM is in Mogadishu to help end the conflict that has ravaged the country for the last 20 years, and for a better future in which all Somalis can live in peace and security.”

Mr. Ban also told reporters that he would discuss today’s attack with the Chairman of the AU and with the Presidents of Uganda and Burundi, two countries which have supplied peacekeepers to AMISOM.

The Secretary-General added that the UN is investigating today’s attack and that he expects to receive a preliminary report shortly.

“We – the United Nations – remain committed to continuing to work with the Transitional Federal Government and the Somali people to facilitate reconciliation and the political process, build Somali security and rule of law institutions and provide humanitarian assistance.

“The United Nations stands by the African Union and AMISOM and will continue to support AMISOM’s deployment and operations. UN resources from neighbouring peace operations are on standby to assist the African Union to respond to the incident today as required.”

Mr. Ban’s condemnation has been echoed by the international community, with _expressions of outrage from governments and regional groups around the world.

In a joint statement, the UN, the European Union (EU), the InterGovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the League of Arab States, Norway and the United States described today’s bombing as “a further demonstration of the extremists’ complete disregard for human lives. It is not only an attack on the AMISOM peacekeepers, but also on the ordinary Somali population who they were helping.”(EOM)