UN Security Council strongly condemns attacks on Somalia's political institutions

The presidential palace also came under attack from al-Shabab militants in February

Saturday, June 12, 2014

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UNITED NATIONS-- The UN Security Council on Friday strongly condemned the recent attacks on the sites of the Somali government and parliament as well as lawmakers, describing the raids "reprehensible acts of terrorism."

After receiving a briefing earlier in the day from Nicholas Kay, the UN Secretary-General's special representative for Somalia, the Council issued a press statement, expressing their condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

Four people including three militants were killed in an attack Tuesday on Villa Somalia, the seat of the Somali Federal Government. The attackers used car bombs and guns during the assault.

The attack, for which Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility, was the latest in a series of attacks by the al Qaida-linked Islamist group against Somalia's political institutions.

On July 5, a car bomb went off just outside the main gates of the parliament compounds in Mogadishu, killing at least four people.

On July 3, lawmaker Mahamud Mohamed Hayd and a security officer were shot dead in Mogadishu.

In Friday's statement, the Council members "underlined the urgent need to support the Somali National Security Forces, in order for it to be able to assume full responsibility for security in Mogadishu and beyond."

"The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice," the statement said, urging all states to cooperate actively with the Somali authorities in this regard.

The most powerful body of the UN reiterated its determination to combat all forms of terrorism, and reminded states that they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.

The Council members reiterated their resolve to "continue to stand by the people and government of Somalia, in the face of deplorable terrorist attacks, as they seek to establish peace and prosperity across their country," the statement said.

The 15-nation council reaffirmed that "terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, wherever and whenever and by whomsoever committed."

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