Tuesday February 13, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Mogadishu on Monday to offer condolences to Ambassador Ahmed Juma Al-Rumeysi following the al-Shabab attack that claimed the lives of at least five people, including four Emirati troops and a Bahraini military officer in Mogadishu.
During the meeting, the President and the Ambassador discussed the importance of diplomatic relations between the two countries and strategies to strengthen them, particularly in security and economic development.
The attack occurred when a soldier opened fire, resulting in the deaths of Somali military officials, three Emirati troops, and a Bahraini military officer at the General Gordon Military Base in Mogadishu on Saturday.
Al-Qaeda-linked armed group Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement online, alleging it killed multiple people involved in the Emirati military effort. It described the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, as an "enemy" of Islamic law for its backing of the Somali government in battling the armed group.
President Mohamud instructed security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. "I strongly condemn this heinous act of violence against these officers who dedicated their time and lives to the liberation and reconstruction of our country's armed forces. We vow to take strict action against those responsible for organizing this reprehensible act," stated the president.