The United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) led a chorus of condemnation for the bombing of Somalia's Defence Minister Omar Hashi Aden, who was killed Thursday in a suicide bomb in the northern town of Beledweyne, together with 29 other victims.
The UN, the AU, the Arab League and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) termed the killings “horrific” and sent their strong condemnations of the suicide car bombing in Beledweyne which killed the Security Minister along with community leaders and other Somalis.”
“This deplorable attack once again demonstrates that the extremists will stop at nothing in their desperate attempt to seize power from the legitimate Government of Somalia by force,” the three organisations involved in the search for peace in Somalia said on Friday.
“These extremists, both Somali and foreigners, failed in their recent coup d’état but are continuing their indiscriminate violence,” added the statement.
Somali's insurgent group, the Al Shabaab militia, which launched a military offensive against the government of Sheikh Sharif Ahmed on 8 May, have continued to pile pressure on the government installed this year despite attempts to include them in the new unity government there.
Aden, an army colonel, was spearheading the latest operations driven by the government in an attempt to rid the country of the militant Islamists, who have continued to wage war there.
“They are a threat not only to the country, but also to the IGAD region and the international community. We urge the Government not to be deterred by the violent crimes of a small minority and to continue its efforts for peace and reconciliation through the Djibouti Process,” the three organisations said.
President Sharif was installed as the country's president in Djibouti, following the latest peace attempt in Somalia, which was seen widely as Somalia's last attempt towards lasting peace.
President Sharif, formerly a radical Islamist who toned down on his rhetoric and backed peace, was elected in January.
His government appeared to have more chances of survival as it embraced a group of radicals and former militants, including the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (LAS), which initially fought the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), which was then led by Abdullahi Yusuf.
But President Yusuf was forced to resign in late December 2008 after the AU thre atened sanctions against him for troubling peace efforts in Somalia.
“Somali people, both inside and outside the country, are yearning for peace and they must not be denied. Swift investigation is needed to identify the names and nationalities of the suicide bomber/s behind this assassination,” the international community said.
The AU, IGAD, LAS and UN sent their sincere condolences to the family and friends of Minister Hashi and the other victims of "this cowardly suicide bombing" as well as to the Government and people of Somalia.
“We pledge our full support to the Government particularly at this critical time and call for all Somalis to rally behind their Government and all those who are working for peace and stability. We also call on the international community to put its firm support behind Somalia’s legal and legitimate Government,” they said.
Source: AfriqueJet.com
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