Somalia: UN envoy saddened by Somali bomb attack

UNPOS
Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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UN Special Envoy to Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, said Monday’s explosion near the Somali Presidential Palace, which killed at least seven people, was shocking and saddening.

“Dr. Mahiga is shocked and saddened by today’s car bombing which occurred near Villa Somalia in the vicinity of the National Theatre in Mogadishu,” a UN statement said after the blast.

Initial reports indicate that at least seven people were killed and many more wounded by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. However, the death has risen to 10.

The UN official said there were also reports that a senior Somali security official may have been targeted in the attack.

“Today’s assault was entirely unacceptable,” Mahiga said, adding: “Somalia has made great strides forward on the path of progress and stabilization and these cowardly terrorist attacks will only reinforce the determination of the Somali people to persevere.

'At this sad moment, our thoughts are with family and friends of those injured and killed.”

Somalia has been progressing on the path towards stability following Presidential elections in 2012, which was conducted after a successful process of selecting parliamentarians.

On Sunday, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Force Commander, Lt.-Gen. Andrew Gutti, met the new Somali military chief of staff, Brig.-Gen. Hadir Adan Elmi.

Brig.-Gen. Elmi replaces Chief of General Staff, Gen. Abdulqadir Shiekh Ali Diini. The outgoing military chief has been recognized together with his team for their role in beginning to rebuild the Somali armed forces and in working to extend the authority of the Somali state.

Under Gen. Dini’s leadership, the Somali National Security Forces have become better organized and more effective as evidenced by the successes they have achieved against the Al Qaeda-affiliated al Shabaab terror group across the country,” the AMISOM officials stated.

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