African Union (AU) chairperson Moussa Faki has condemned an attack by al-Shabab militants on a military base in central Somalia manned by Burundian soldiers.
The AU has not yet released the number of casualties suffered in the attack on the base, which is some 130km (80 miles) north-east of the capital, Mogadishu.
But al-Shabab militants say more than 170 soldiers were killed and that they have taken complete control of the AU base. This has not been independently confirmed.
In a statement, Mr Faki said the “attack will not lessen the determination” of the AU’s force in Somalia.
He called on the international community to increase support to the Somali security services and the AU mission.
Mr Faki has also had a phone call with Burundi’s president to “pay respects for the sacrifice” of the Burundi peacekeepers.
Burundi Mourns
Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye says “there are no words strong enough to condemn the terrorist attack against the Burundian contingent” of African Union troops in Somalia.
The Burundian president was reacting to the attack by the jihadist group Al-Shabab on a military base in Somalia on Tuesday.
“I join with all of Africa to console the families of the fallen heroes,” he tweeted.
No official figures of the casualties of the attack have been given, but Al-Shabaab said they had killed dozens of Burundian troops after overrunning the base. This has not been independently confirmed.
The African Union Commission chief, Moussa Faki has already condemned the deadly attack.
BBC Africa News