Joint Statement condemning today's suicide bombing in Mogadishu

Source: African Union (AU); European Union (EU); Government of Norway; Government of the United States of America; Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD); League of Arab States; United Nations (UN)

Date: 03 Dec 2009

The African Union Mission in Somalia
The European Union
The InterGovernmental Authority on Development
League of Arab States
Norway
The United Nations
The United States of America

Nairobi, 03 December 2009 – The African Union Mission in Somalia, the European Union, the InterGovernmental Authority on Development, the League of Arab States, the United Nations, Norway and the United States condemn in the strongest possible terms today's cowardly suicide bombing of TFG officials, students, journalists, and other civilians in Mogadishu.

This horrific attack is another demonstration of the extremists' complete disregard for human life. The fact that this bombing targeted a ceremony for graduating medical students - the future doctors of Somalia - is particularly egregious. These desperate acts, however, will not deter the international community from continuing its support to the Transitional Federal Government and the Somali people who are working to restore peace and stability in Somalia.

The attack killed three ministers, and seriously wounded a fourth, who were working selflessly for reconciliation in Somalia. The Ministers were merely carrying out their civic duties in attending a graduation ceremony in which young, enterprising Somalis were marking what should have been a landmark occurrence in their young lives.

AMISOM, the EU, IGAD, LAS, Norway, the UN, and the US offer their sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victims of this cold-blooded attack, as well as to the Government and the people of Somalia.http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/VDUX-7YDSY5?OpenDocument