ATMIS Slams Al-Shabaab Terrorist Attack on Mogadishu Hotel

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has strongly condemned Sunday’s terrorist attack at Villa Rosa Hotel in Mogadishu by Al-Shabaab.

Al-Shabaab militants attacked a hotel near the presidential palace in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Sunday.

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“A team of Al-Shabaab fighters attacked a commercial hotel in Bondhere district tonight (and) the security forces are engaging in an effort to eliminate them,” the national police spokesman, Sadik Dudishe, is quoted as saying.

Dudishe said many civilians and officials were rescued from the Villa Rose, a hotel popular with politicians, amid loud explosions and gunfire.

“(ATMIS) expresses solidarity with the Government and people of Somalia during this period,” the mission said in a statement.

It added: “ATMIS further applauds Somali Security Forces for the swift response to prevent further casualties and property damage.”

Al-Shabaab, a militant group affiliated with Al-Qaeda that has been trying to overthrow Somalia’s central government in Mogadishu for 15 years, claimed responsibility for the attack.