PRESS RELEASE

THE TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION

May 20, 2009

Foreign fighters in Somalia

The TFG once again condemns in the strongest terms recent and continued futile violence perpetrated by spoilers and their foreign adventure allies. In particular, the government singles out last night’s attack on Somali Security personnel at Ex-control. These attacks have caused unnecessary death and injuries of innocent civilians and disrupted the lives of thousands of fellow Somalis, leading to a precarious humanitarian situation. 

The perpetrators are opposed to the peace and reconciliation process and will have the full responsibility on their shoulder. The illegitimate attacks cannot succeed and the spoilers have no local or international support.  They have no plan for the future of Somalia and are only promoting their own self-interest.  

Their continued attacks, for example, caused the May 18 explosion in Gubta area of Daynille District in Mogadishu. Information available to the Government indicates that poorly-trained and incompetent foreign fighters were loading explosives onto vehicles in a house when the explosives detonated.

The government regrets the loss of life, but notes that these explosives were likely going to be targeted at innocent Somalis. The government is concerned that the use of explosives of any kind is a new foreign terror tactic imported by al-Shabaab to terrorize the people of Somalia. Government reiterates its cardinal responsibility of protecting the people and their property and will do everything available at its disposal to do just that. The government understands that these bandits and mercenaries have the support of neither the Somali population nor the international community and they therefore don’t have any interest in the future of Somalia.
 
Source: MINISTRY OF INFORMATION (TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA)