Secretary-General Strongly Condemns Deadly Attack Targeting New President

of Somalia, Kenya’s Minister for Foreign Affairs

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

The Secretary-General strongly condemns today’s attack on the Jazeera Hotel in Mogadishu, in which newly elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was meeting with the Kenyan Foreign Minister, Professor Samson Ongeri, in the presence of international media.  He is saddened by the deaths of several Somali and AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) soldiers who responded to the incident.

The Secretary-General expresses his sincere condolences to the families of those killed, and wishes arapid recovery for those injured.  He pays tribute to AMISOM and Somali security forces, whose courage and determination has helped to deliver crucial progress in Somalia.

The Secretary-General is convinced that such acts will not reverse the recent achievements or weaken the determination of the Somali people to achieve peace and security in their country.  He reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to support President Mohamud and the Somali people in their efforts.

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For information media • not an official record