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Just Earth News | @JustEarthNews | 12 Nov 2018
Stuart Price
New York, The members of the United Nations Security Council, on Saturday, condemned “in the strongest possible terms” Friday’s car bomb attack in Somalia, in which dozens of innocent women, children and men were killed or injured, and reiterated that any acts of terrorism are "criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed".
The attack took place in the capital, Mogadishu, near the Sahafi Hotel on Friday afternoon, where three explosions were followed by gunfire, all believed to be orchestrated by the jihadist group, Al-Shabab. So far, authorities have reported that at least 20 people have been killed, and 17 wounded.
In its years-long fight against the UN and internationally-backed Somali Government, the group has been targeting places where officials and security forces are likely to frequent, such as the Sahafi Hotel.
The members of the Security Council commended the swift response of Somalia’s security and first responders and reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes "one of the most serious threats to international peace and security".
Underlying the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice, they urged all States, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard, in accordance with obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
The members of the UN body reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law – including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law – threats to global peace and security caused by terrorist attacks.
Paying tribute to all Somali and international actors working to bring peace and stability in Somalia, the members of the Council reiterated their determination to support peace, stability and development in Somalia, stressing that neither this nor any other terrorist attack would weaken that determination.
They expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the people and Government of Somalia and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
On Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres had also condemned the attack and reaffirmed the United Nations’ solidarity with the people of Somalia.