Mogadishu, Somalia – The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has strongly condemned the attack that killed several Emirati officers at the General Gordon military base in Mogadishu on Saturday night.
President Mohamud visited the injured officers at the Erdogan Hospital in Mogadishu and expressed his condolences to the government and the people of the United Arab Emirates. He also instructed the security agencies to conduct a thorough and urgent investigation into the security breach and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We offer our condolences to the officers who lost their lives in this terrorist attack in Mogadishu, those officers who came to our country to participate in the reconstruction of the Somali Armed Forces,” President Mohamud said in a statement.
“We strongly condemn this heinous act that took the lives of these officers who dedicated their time and lives to the liberation of our country and the rebuilding of our forces. We will not let this cowardly act deter us from our path of peace and stability.”
President Mohamud also praised the UAE for its continued support in the reconstruction and development of Somalia, and said that the Somali people will always remember the role that the UAE has played in supporting their country in this difficult time.
The UAE is one of the main donors and partners of Somalia, providing humanitarian aid, development assistance, and security cooperation. The UAE has also helped in the reopening of the Mogadishu Stadium, which was seen as a symbol of the country’s recovery from years of conflict.
The attack on the UAE officers is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have rocked Mogadishu in recent months, as Al-Shabaab continues to wage a deadly insurgency against the Somali government and the African Union peacekeeping forces. The group has also targeted hotels, restaurants, and public places frequented by government officials and foreigners.
The Somali government and its international allies have vowed to intensify their efforts to defeat Al-Shabaab and restore security and stability in the country.
