African Union Condemns Terrorist Attacks in Mogadishu

ADDIS ABABA – African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, has condemned the deadly terrorist attacks in Mogadishu on Saturday.

Two cars packed with explosives blew up minutes apart near the city’s busy Zobe intersection, followed by gunfire in an attack targeting Somalia’s education ministry.

The attacks claimed the lives of more than 100 civilians and wounded 300 others.

AUC Chairperson Mahamat has condamned “in the strongest terms the horrific terrorist attack”.

Mahamat “expresses the African Union’s heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes speedy recovery to the injured,” said the AU in a statement.

The chairperson has appealed to the international community to “redouble its efforts to ensure robust support to Somalia’s institutions in their struggle to defeat terrorist’s groups”.

Saturday’s attack was the deadliest since a truck bomb exploded at the same intersection in October 2017, killing more than 500 people.

Bulldozers were continuing to clear the blast site in the capital Mogadishu on Monday in the hunt for bodies feared trapped under the rubble.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud blamed the al-Shabab militant group for the attacks, and pledged “total war” against the group.

Featured Image Caption: The plumes of smoke arising from the blasts could be seen across Mogadishu following the blasts on Saturday [Photo Reuters]