Ethiopia Condemns Attack On Leader of Juba Administration

Al Shabaab carried out attack on the leader of Juba Interim Administration Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam "Madobe" last Thursday.

An explosive-laden car hit Sheikh Madobe's motorcade in Kismayo shortly after he arrived back from Mogadishu where he had been holding talks with President Mahmoud and Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon regarding the proposed reconciliation conference for the Jubba communities.

His convoy was driving into the palace when the attack came, killing some 20 people including civilians and security guards and wounding dozens more.

AU Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif and the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Mr. Nicolas Kay, both condemned the attack in the strongest terms.

Mr. Kay said "Ahmed Madobe is a key partner in the search for peace and reconciliation in Somalia.

It is reprehensible that he would become a target for extremist violence at a time when he is playing a key role in state building and peace building."

Ethiopia strongly denounces the terror attack as an act of desperation aimed at derailing the peace process between Juba and the Federal Government of Somalia. Ethiopia will continue to offer its full support to bring peace and stability in Somalia and for the implementation of the recent agreement signed between Somali Federal Government and the Juba Delegation.