UN expresses ‘outrage’ at ‘heinous’ Al Shabaab attack on Kenyan university

The United Nations has condemned the terrorist attack carried out by Al Shabaab in Garissa, Kenya, in the strongest terms, with the Security Council members stressing their “outrage” at what the President of the General Assembly called a “heinous” attack.

The Secretary-General, who had previously condemned the attack in a statement released on Wednesday, sent a personal letter yesterday to the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, to once again expressed his sincere condolences following the “horrendous” attack.

“There is little more appalling than targeting young people for murder and mayhem.” Mr. Ban wrote in the letter. “Those responsible for this heinous attack must be brought to justice.”

He also reiterated the solidarity of the United Nations with the people and Government of Kenya in preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism.

Those sentiments were echoed by the members of the Security Council, who issued a statement paying tribute to Kenya's role in the fight against terrorism, in particular the role played by the country in the fight against Al Shabaab as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Reaffirming that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, wherever and whenever and by whomsoever committed, Council members reiterated their determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with their responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.

They underlined the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Kenyan authorities in this regard.

The members of the Security Council reminded States that they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights law, international humanitarian law and refugee law.

The President of the General Assembly, Sam Kutesa (Uganda), also reiterated that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever commits it, and he joined the Secretary-General and the Security Council in extending condolences to the families of the victims and the people and government of the Republic of Kenya, while wishing a speedy recovery to those injured.

The heinous attack left dozens dead, scores injured and many held hostage and others unaccounted for, the vast majority of whom were students, the statement said, adding a call on the international community to redouble its efforts to combat the scourge of terrorism.