Al Shabaab attack unforgivable, KDF sacrifice not in vain

Al Shabaab attack unforgivable, KDF sacrifice not in vain - Somalia minister

Saturday January 16, 2016

Kenya Defense Force soldiers walk near the perimeter wall where attackers are holding up at a campus in Garissa April 2, 2015. Photo/REUTERS

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The al Shabaab attack in Somalia on Friday is "unforgivable", the country's government has said, adding the sacrifice of Kenyan soldiers "will not be in vain".

The terror group's fighters attacked a remote Somali army base and entered a nearby town close to the border with Kenya, saying they had killed dozens of soldiers who are part of the African Union Mission in Somalia.

"We will ensure the sacrifice of our brothers and sisters is not in vain. We will defeat the militants and make Somalia and the entire region prosperous," said Foreign minister Abdirahman Duale.

In a statement on Saturday, Duale underlined that "cowardly criminal acts" will not prevent Somalia from achieving peace, progress and prosperity.

He said the Somali National Army and the African Union mission will continue joint operations until the country is liberated from the al Qaeda-linked terror group.

"Our people can be free to achieve their ambitions in peace and freedom," he noted.

Duale thanked Amisom and the army for their sacrifices and combined dedication in fighting al Shabaab, adding Somalia salutes the Kenya Defence Forces.

“We especially recognise and share the painful loss of the people of Kenya whose sons and daughters in uniform bravely came to return hope and stability to Somalia," he said.

“We express our deepest condolences of those courageous soldiers who paid the ultimate price protecting our innocent civilians and strengthening institutions and safeguarding our progress against terrorism."

On Friday, President Uhuru Kenyatta lauded the soldiers' swift efforts to prevent more deaths in the attack at the El Adde African Union base.

He said the attack on Kenyan soldiers will not bring to an end the mission for peace and stability in Somalia.

“I take this opportunity to express mine and the country’s deepest sympathy to the families and loved ones of the fallen. I stand with you," he said in a statement.

Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi also sent a condolence message saying the attack showed how serious the threat of terrorism is.

Somali and Kenyan military officials said the fighters had seized the Somali army base near the town of Ceel Cadde, about 550 km (340 miles) west of Mogadishu in a region near Kenya's border.

The group said it took over the base after a suicide bomber rammed its gates, and also controlled the town, capturing nearly 30 trucks and armoured vehicles.

The KDF spokesman said al Shabaab fighters overran the Somali army base and Amisom had counter-attacked.

"The number of casualties on both sides is unknown," Colonel David Obonyo, KDF spokesman, said in a statement.

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