SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY CONDEMNS 22 FEBRUARY SUICIDE BOMBING IN SOMALIA

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General strongly condemns yesterday’s suicide bombing in Mogadishu, which took the lives of 11 Burundian soldiers from the African Union contingent in Somalia (AMISOM) and seriously injured 15 others.  He is deeply saddened by the loss of life, and wishes to express his heartfelt solidarity with the African Union and with the Government of Burundi, which has shown commendable and steadfast leadership in Somalia.  There can be no legitimate justification for this and other recent attacks targeting African Union forces that are deployed with the sole purpose of helping the Somali people bring peace and security to their country.  The Secretary-General believes AMISOM’s continued commitment and sacrifice in Somalia must be backed by wider support from the international community so that it can effectively carry out its mandate under difficult circumstances.  The United Nations will continue its own efforts to provide the Mission with critically needed assistance.

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For information media • not an official record