Off the wire
• Kenya to attract foreign investors to hit 10 pct annual growth  • Myanmar to consider becoming full member of Mekong River Commission: president  • Roundup: Africa needs concrete measures to address illicit financial outflows: experts  • Zambia to start transacting in U.S. dollar at border entry  • Former NBA player Turkoglu elected new leader of Turkish Basketball Federation  • 36 injured in cooking gas cylinder explosion in central Nepal  • Kenya's green bond policy to be in place in early 2017  • Zambian gov't to demolish properties built on illegal land  • Iran finalizes agreements with German, Swiss insurers for coverage on transactions  • Spain's Banco Santander earns 4.61 bln euros in Jan-Sept  
You are here: 　 Home

AU lauds soldiers for foiling terror attacks on base in Somalia

Xinhua, October 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Africa Union envoy in Somalia on Wednesday lauded the pan African body's troops for thwarting a deadly terror attack on the AU base in Beledweyne on Tuesday by suspected Al-Shabaab militants.

Francisco Caetano Madeira, the Special Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson (SRCC) for Somalia, said the response by AMISOM soldiers was timely.

"We commend the troops for their swift reaction in neutralizing this deadly attack and will continue to stand against these terrorists whose sole purpose is to spread terror and perpetuate a timetable of destabilization for Somalia," Madeira said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

Ten attackers drove up in a vehicle at about midday which detonated at the gates of the camp, after which the militants forced their way in.

AMISOM troops responded swiftly with the aid of reinforcements from a nearby base and the situation was brought under control.

All 10 militants were killed, while two AMISOM soldiers succumbed to injuries during the fight. Another five AMISOM troops are injured.

Madeira extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, empathized with the injured and wished them quick recovery, while reiterating AMISOM's commitment to protect lives and safeguard peace.

The militants have stepped up their terror attacks with the aim of disrupting the election process now underway in Somalia. Endit