Norway condemns terrorist attack on parliament in Mogadishu

OSLO, Norway, May 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende condemns the attack on the Federal Parliament in Mogadishu on 24 May in the strongest terms.

Reports indicate that some of the parliamentarians were injured, and several police officers and African Union soldiers were killed in the attack. Several of the attackers were also reported to have been killed in the gunfire that broke out after a car bomb was detonated outside the parliament building.

‘I strongly condemn the attack on the parliament in Mogadishu. Somalia’s parliamentarians have the task of creating a peaceful, stable and democratic Somalia. My thoughts today go first and foremost to the families and relatives of the victims,’ Mr Brende said.

This is not the first time the Somali parliament has been targeted by terrorists. Two Somali parliamentarians were killed in separate attacks on 21 and 22 April this year. Despite the efforts of the Somali authorities to improve security in the city, backed up by African Union forces, the security situation in Mogadishu remains unstable.

‘It is vital that the Somali authorities ensure that those responsible for this attack are brought to justice, and that the authorities continue their work to improve security for parliamentarians, members of the Government and the population of Mogadishu and Somalia as a whole,’ Mr Brende said.

Norway’s broad-based engagement in Somalia involves supporting humanitarian and development efforts, and the development of Somali institutions.