Addis Ababa, 17 June 2014: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, strongly condemns the massacre of over 50 people, by Al-Shabaab, in the town of Mpeketoni, near the Kenyan coastal city of Lamu, on the night of 15 June 2014.

The Chairperson of the Commission expresses AU’s heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wishes strength and speedy recovery to the wounded. She reiterates AU’s solidarity with the Government and people of Kenya, and its support to the efforts of the Kenyan Government to combat the scourge of terrorism.

The Chairperson of the Commission emphasizes that this horrendous attack is yet another testimony to the menace posed by Al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups to peace, security and development on the continent. She stresses that Al-Shabaab is not only the enemy of the Somali and Kenyan peoples, but also an enemy of humanity and all principles of peace and tolerance that Africa is striving for.

The Chairperson commends the Government and people of Kenya, as well as all other troops and police contributing countries to the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for their unwavering commitment to support their Somali brethren in combating terrorism, restoring the rule of law and rebuilding their state institutions.

The Chairperson reiterates AU’s strong rejection of all forms of terrorism and extremism, and emphasizes that the only way to eliminate this menace is through collective, concrete and coordinated action by all Member States. In this regard, she recalls that the AU counter-terrorism instruments provide an ideal cooperative framework for the prevention and combating of terrorism. She appeals to Member States to fully implement the provisions contained therein.