The EU condemns an attack by Al Shabaab against an African Union mission base in southern Somalia

May 26. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The European Union has condemned this Friday an attack perpetrated by the terrorist group Al Shabaab against an important military base of the forces of the Transition Mission of the African Union in Somalia (ATMIS) in the south of the African country.

“This latest attack on soldiers conducting peace support operations in Somalia only reinforces our commitment to supporting the region and holding to account those responsible for these continued heinous attacks against Somali citizens and those seeking to stabilize the situation in the country,” said the EU’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Nabila Massrali.

The attack took place just a day after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stated that the country is “at a key moment” and stressed that the security forces seek to “eliminate the threat of extremist elements, such as Al Shabaab to ensure the safety of the population.

Somalia has in recent months increased offensives against Al Shabaab, linked to Al Qaeda, with support from clans and local militias as part of a series of decisions taken by the president, who promised upon taking office to put the fight against terrorism at the center of his efforts to stabilize the African country.