According to media reports, militants claiming to belong to the Al-Shabaab extremist group targeted non-Muslim civilian workers in Mandera – a town sitting along the Kenya-Somalia border – killing at least thirty-six people. It is the second targeted attack in Mandera following the brutal killing of 28 people on a passenger bus there 10 days ago.

Al-Shabaab’s operations have sown terror across Somalia and Kenya in recent years with coordinated attacks against hotels, shopping centres, and other civilian areas. In astatement issued on Tuesdayby his spokesperson, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the violence and expressed his “deep condolences to the families of the deceased and to the people and the Government of Kenya.”

“The Secretary-General hopes that those responsible will be brought swiftly to justice,” the statement continued, adding that  Ban reaffirmed the UN’s “full support” in aiding Kenya’s efforts “to fight terrorism and to provide security to the population consistent with international law and Kenya’s human rights obligations.”

African Union troops guard a bridge over the Juba river near the town of Burdubow which they regained control of from Al Shabaab insurgents on 9 March 2014 during a joint operation with Somali National Army troops. Photo: AU/UN/IST/Mahamud Hassan