Saturday, September 14, 2013
The Ethiopian government on Friday condemned an attack carried out by
the militant group Al-Shabaab on the leader of Somalia's Jubaland.
An explosive-laden car on Thursday hit President Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed
Islam (Madobe) motorcade at the Southern port city of Kismayo.
Madobe came under attack while he was returning home from Somalia
where he held talks with President Mahmoud and Prime Minister Abdi Farah
Shirdon.
Madobe survived the attack unhurt however at least 20 people
including his security guards died in the attack. Many others were
injured.
In a statement on Friday, Ethiopia, a US regional ally on the war on terror, deplored the terrorist attack
"Ethiopia strongly denounces the terror attack as an act of
desperation aimed at derailing the peace process between Juba and the
Federal Government of Somalia. Addis Ababa reaffirms to stand by the
people of Somalia and to continue necessary assistance for peace process
and to combat terrorism" said a statement by Ministry of foreign
affairs.,
"Ethiopia will continue to offer its full support to bring peace and
stability in Somalia and for the implementation of the recent agreement
signed between Somalia Federal Government and the Juba Delegation" the
statement further said.
The attack which targeted President Madobe came two weeks after the
Federal Government of Somalia and the semi-autonomous Jubaland agreed on
a series of issues in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, under IGAD
brokered bilateral talks.
The reached agreement includes fighting against Al Qaeda linked Al
Shabaab group and respecting the legitimate Provisional Federal
Constitution (PFC) of Somalia.