Kenya: AU Condemns Garissa Campus Attack

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has condemned what he described as the“cowardly terrorist attack” against the campus of Garissa University College, in north eastern Kenya, perpetrated last week by the al-Shabaab terrorist group, during which scores of innocent students and staff were killed, while many others were injured.

The AU Chairperson, in a statement yesterday, stated that the union is “appalled by such barbaric act”, offering the AU’s heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes speedy recovery to all those injured.

She expresses AU’s solidarity with the people and government of Kenya, promising the AU’s full support to their efforts in combating the scourge of terrorism.

She reiterates the AU’s deep appreciation to Kenya for its outstanding contribution to the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the huge sacrifices made towards stabilising the country, as part of the overall efforts to promote peace and security in the region and the continent as a whole.

Dr. Dlamini-Zuma underlines the need for renewed and coordinated African efforts to prevent and combat terrorism and violent extremism, within the framework of the relevant continental and international instruments.

She harped on AU’s determination to continue supporting the efforts being deployed in this respect by the countries of the region, both through AMISOM and the Djibouti Process on the Enhancement of Security Cooperation in East Africa launched by the 1st meeting of the Heads of Intelligence and Security Services of the member states of the InterGovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the East African Community (EAC), held in Djibouti a month ago.