Somalia, 1 September 2015 – The top UN official in Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has strongly condemned today’s attack by Al Shabaab militants on an African Union Mission (AMISOM) base at Janaale, Lower Shabelle Region manned by troops from the Ugandan contingent.
According to AMISOM, the militants used a car loaded with explosives to trigger the attack and to facilitate their forced entry into the camp after which they engaged soldiers in a gun-battle.
Full control of the base has reportedly been regained.
In a statement, Mr. Kay sent his deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones and to the people and governments of Uganda and Somalia.
“These courageous peacekeepers sacrificed their lives in the ongoing efforts to bring lasting peace and security to Somalia,” he said, adding that the United Nations remains resolute in its support for the Somali people.
Mr. Kay, who is the head of the UN Assistance Mission in the country, known as UNSOM, also underlined that the UN’s solidarity with AMISOM and Somali security forces in their efforts to defeat Al-Shabaab “will not waver.”
The Security Council recently authorized the Member States of the African Union to maintain the deployment of AMISOM until 30 May 2016.