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Somalia: Ban reassures African Union mission of UN backing after deadly attacks

Somalia: Ban reassures African Union mission of UN backing after deadly attacks

AU Special Representative NicolasBwakira (left) and Burundi's Ambassador toKenya (right) with an injured peacekeeperat a Nairobi Hospital
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today personally assured the African Union Mission in Somalia of the United Nations’ “steadfast commitment” of support following yesterday's deadly suicide bombing of its headquarters in Mogadishu, the capital.

Mr. Ban spoke on the phone with the Chairman of the African Union (AU) Commission, Jean Ping, repeating the “shock and outrage” he voiced in a statement yesterday over the attack, which reportedly killed at least 21 people.

The dead includes the outgoing deputy force commander, Gen. Juvenile Niyoyunguriza from Burundi, spokesperson Michele Montas told a news briefing.

Two vehicles, reportedly with UN markings on them, were used in the attack on the compound of the AU operation, known as AMISOM.

Immediately after the attack, aviation resources from the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were deployed to assist AMISOM and the AU in helping to save the lives of the injured.