"The Secretary-General strongly condemns yesterday's attack on the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) base camp in the Mogadishu International Airport… The Secretary-General conveys his sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives, and wishes a swift recovery for the injured," a statement published on the UN website read.
Ban Ki-moon added that the UN will further "support the Government and people of Somalia in their continuing journey toward peace and stability".
AMISOM is a peacekeeping mission of the African Union that helps establish security in Somalia and assists the country's government in conducting operations against al-Shabab.
Al-Shabab is an Islamic fundamentalist group linked with al-Qaeda that intends to create an Islamic state in Somalia. The group persecutes non-Muslims, advocates strict interpretation of sharia law and attempts to eliminate western influence in the region. It is believed to be behind most of the terrorist attacks in the country.
