The African Union has described asbarbaric attacks by Somali Islamic hard line insurgent group al-Shabaab whichleft at least 11 peacekeepers dead and 15 seriously injured. The African Unionsaid its troops (AMISOM) will continue peacekeeping efforts in Somalia,promising to impose sanctions on the Islamic insurgents. But al-Shabaab saidSunday's suicide attacks are the beginning of more attacks, vowing to take overthe country and institute the sharia law.Sunday's attack was by far the deadliest against the AU peacekeepers inthe Somali capital, Mogadishu since early 2007. It targeted a base in the southof the city. Ambassador Nicholas Bwakira is the African Union Special envoy toSomalia. He tells reporter Peter Clottey the AU will continue to supportSomalia's new government to ensure peace and stability despite the attacks.
"Myreaction is a reaction of condemnation in the strongest terms of this barbaricattack, which is undermining the efforts of the new government and newinstitutions which are being put in place in the last few weeks and days. Theseanti-peace forces have attacked the Burundi contingents Sunday and killed 11 ofour soldiers and wounding 15 others who have been evacuated to Nairobi (Kenya'scapital)," Ambassador Bwakira pointed out.
Hesaid the Islamic insurgent group claimed responsibility for Sunday's suicideattacks.
"Sofar I think it is Sheikh Muktar Robow Abu Mansur who has claimed these attacks. Andwe are determined to continue our action. At the same time we are saying to theSomali people that these people (insurgents) would be brought to book. Theywould be subjected to sanctions, which is being decided by both IGAD(Intergovernmental Authority on Development) and AU (African Union)," he said.
Ambassador Bwakira sharplydisagreed with suggestions that the refusal of the African union troops toforcefully repel insurgency attacks had emboldened the Islamists hardliners tocontinue their attacks.
"We are not in Somalia tofight; we are peacekeepers. We defend ourselves when we are attacked, but weare not going to do law enforcement. This is not our role. The new governmentof Somalia is prepared to put in place Somali security forces and theinternational community will help them to do that. Our role is to protectinstitutions and to facilitate a dialogue. This is what we have been doing forthe last two y years and this is what we are determined to continue to dodespite these attacks and despite these killings," Ambassador Bwakira noted.
He said the African Unionreposes great confidence in the ability of the new Somali administration toensure peace and stability in the country after 18 years of ineffectivegovernment.
"Now, a new government hasbeen put in place; Sheikh Sharif has been inaugurated only three weeks ago. Anew prime minister has been appointed on 13 February that is only nine days agoand the cabinet are being appointed this weekend. So, we have confidence, fullconfidence in the new institutions and we are confident that this newinstitution will make this security a priority. In fact Sheikh Sharif hasindicated that security will be his top priority for the first six months ofthe government," he said.
Ambassador Bwakira said theAfrican Union would continue to support the new administration to succeed.
"I can tell you that we havealready provided support to the new government. President Sheikh Sharif has puta central security committee in Mogadishu 10 days ago. And we are working veryclosely with this security committee to put in place new forces about 2,700people have already been selected. And we are going to support them so thatthey would be able to secure Mogadishu and the country," Ambassador Bwakirapointed out.
Described by Washington as a terroristorganization, al-Shabaab refuses to recognize the new Somali president and hasvowed to take over the country and institute the sharia law. The group claimsnew President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is a puppet put there to do thebidding of the west.
Sunday's attack was the second onthe Burundian base in the space of a few days. The previous attack reportedlyleft one civilian dead and two wounded, but caused no casualties among the AUtroops. Until the latest attacks, the Somali capital had enjoyed a relativelull in violence following the election on January 31 of Islamist cleric SheikhSharif Sheikh Ahmed as president. The Isamic hard line al-shabaab spent thelast two years battling the Ethiopian forces who invaded Somalia in late 2006but completed a pullout last month.