Larry André, the US Ambassador to Somalia, has condemned a recent wave of al-Shabab militant attacks across the country, which have killed more than 60 people.
André told VOA Somali on Tuesday that the attacks in Mogadishu, Beledweyne, and other parts of Somalia were meant to prevent the country from moving toward stability.
“Those who seek to murder and destroy are condemned by us,” the ambassador said. “They are putting an end to Somalia’s revival and taking many lives in the process. We back those working to make Somalia a safe, prosperous, and peaceful place. That is the goal of our collaboration with the Somali authorities, the Somali people, and Somali civil society.”
According to Somali police spokesperson Major Abdifatah Aden Hassan, an al-Shabab daring attack on Mogadishu’s heavily fortified airport on March 23 killed at least seven people, including five foreigners.
Al-Shabab attacks continued this week, with five soldiers killed in a raid and roadside explosion in Puntland by the militant group. On Tuesday night in Wanlaweyn, another attack injured a security official and killed his teenage son.
According to André, stability in the Horn of Africa will not be achieved unless Somalia is rebuilt as a prosperous, democratic, and peaceful country.
“And these acts of mass murder prevent that full revival,” he said.
Al-Shabab used mortars to attack Mogadishu airport on the day of the attack.
There were no casualties, but Andre admitted that one of the mortars landed near the US Embassy.
“It also came close to landing in the United Nations compound, landed in the international compound, and some landed at sea,” he said.
According to André, stability in the Horn of Africa will not be achieved unless Somalia is rebuilt as a prosperous, democratic, and peaceful country.
“And these acts of mass murder prevent that full revival,” he said.
Al-Shabab used mortars to attack Mogadishu airport on the day of the attack.
There were no casualties, but Andre admitted that one of the mortars landed near the US Embassy.
“It also came close to landing in the United Nations compound, landed in the international compound, and some landed at sea,” he said.
According to André, stability in the Horn of Africa will not be achieved unless Somalia is rebuilt as a prosperous, democratic, and peaceful country.
“And these acts of mass murder prevent that full revival,” he said.
Al-Shabab used mortars to attack Mogadishu airport on the day of the attack.
There were no casualties, but Andre admitted that one of the mortars landed near the US Embassy.
“It also came close to landing in the United Nations compound, landed in the international compound, and some landed at sea,” he said.
According to André, stability in the Horn of Africa will not be achieved unless Somalia is rebuilt as a prosperous, democratic, and peaceful country.
“And these acts of mass murder prevent that full revival,” he said.
Al-Shabab used mortars to attack Mogadishu airport on the day of the attack.
There were no casualties, but Andre admitted that one of the mortars landed near the US Embassy.
“It also came close to landing in the United Nations compound, landed in the international compound, and some landed at sea,” he said.
According to André, stability in the Horn of Africa will not be achieved unless Somalia is rebuilt as a prosperous, democratic, and peaceful country.
“And these acts of mass murder prevent that full revival,” he said.
Al-Shabab used mortars to attack Mogadishu airport on the day of the attack.
There were no casualties, but Andre admitted that one of the mortars landed near the US Embassy.
“It also came close to landing in the United Nations compound, landed in the international compound, and some landed at sea,” he said.
According to André, stability in the Horn of Africa will not be achieved unless Somalia is rebuilt as a prosperous, democratic, and peaceful country.
“And these acts of mass murder prevent that full revival,” he said.
Al-Shabab used mortars to attack Mogadishu airport on the day of the attack.
There were no casualties, but Andre admitted that one of the mortars landed near the US Embassy.
“It also came close to landing in the United Nations compound, landed in the international compound, and some landed at sea,” he said.