AU Chairperson condemns attack on ATMIS base in Somalia

ADDIS ABABA - The Chairperson of the Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack perpetrated by Al Shabaab militants against an African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) base in El-Baraf, in the Middle Shabelle region, north of Mogadishu, on 3 May 2022

The Chairperson pays tribute to the Burundian peacekeepers who lost their lives helping to bring peace and stability to Somalia. The Chairperson extends his sincere condolences to the bereaved families, the Government, and the people of the Republic of Burundi, and wishes a speedy recovery to the wounded as a result of the attack.

The Chairperson reiterates that this heinous attack will not lessen the determination of ATMIS forces and reaffirms the continued and unwavering commitment of the AU to support the Somali Government and people in their pursuit to achieve sustainable peace and security.

The Chairperson further calls on the international community to increase support to the Somali security services and the ATMIS mission commensurate with the security challenges at hand.

The AU or ATMIS did not speak about the casualty number but Al-Shabaab claimed it killed 173 Burundian soldiers in the deadly attack on their base in El-Baraf on Tuesday morning.

GAROWE ONLINE