AU, Somalia condemn suicide car bomb attack in Mogadishu

Friday, January 23, 2015

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MOGADISHU-- The African Union and Somali government on Thursday condemned a suicide car bomb attack at a Mogadishu hotel in which at least five people were killed and several others injured.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who visited the SYL hotel that was attacked, assured the Turkish delegation in the hotel of his government's effort to provide sufficient security.

Mohamud said the terror attack by Al-Shabaab would not stop his government's plan to host the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who is expected in the country on Friday.

"These are desperate attacks but I can assure you their attempts to stop our plans will not succeed. I thank our security teams for quick action to foil such terrorist attacks," Mohamud told journalists in Mogadishu.

He said the government had put in place enough security measures in and around the city to ensure the Turkish president's visit will be peaceful and successful.

"The purpose of this attack is to show the world that the country is not safe. The government of Somalia will pursue those responsible for the attack. This will not delay the arrival of Turkish president," Mohamud said.

Somali Prime Minister Abdirashid Omar Sharmarke also deplored the car bomb attack, terming it an assault on the lives of the citizens and the country's visitors.

Sharmarke also sent his condolences to the families of those who lose their loved ones in the terror attack.

"This attack comes at a time our people are ready to welcome our Turkish brothers and their president. This will not deter our resolve and that of our Turkish brothers who are involved in major development projects in our country," added Sharmarke.

He said the government has stepped up security in key strategic locations in and around Mogadishu as the public movements have been restrained to avoid more attacks.

Maman S. Sidikou, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia (SRCC) and Head of AMISOM, also condemned the attack and extended his deepest condolences to the families of the brave police officers that lost their lives defending their fellow countrymen.

"This is clearly a desperate and failed attempt to frustrate growing peace, stability, unity in governance and economic activities currently taking center stage in Mogadishu and Somalia as a whole, and that their attempts are in vain because Somalia cannot turn back," Sidikou said in a statement.

"With this attack, Al-Shabaab has demonstrated once again that it has no interest in Somalia's positive development and the improved welfare of its people," Sidikou added.

He called on the people of Somalia and the international community not to be deterred by "these extremists, whose cowardly attempts to create fear and perpetuate violence are doomed to fail. "

Somalia militants Al-Shabaab have claimed responsibility for the attack which its operations spokesman Abdiaziz Abu Musab said was aimed at disrupting planned visit by Turkish president.

Turkish President Erdogan is due in Somalia Friday on his second visit to the Horn of African nation. The first was in his role as Turkish Prime Minister in 2011.

The Turkish leader will hold bilateral discussions with his host, focusing on ongoing Turkish development cooperation and issues of national importance. He will also visit Turkish assistance projects in Somalia.

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