Mogadishu, 04 February, 2013-The AMISOM Force Commander, Lt Gen Andrew Gutti has paid tribute to an AMISOM soldier who was this morning killed in an explosion while he was protecting Somali workers in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

No other casualties were reported in the incident which took place at the Siad Barre Military Academy where the soldier was helping to secure the area for Somali workmen hired to construct a fence.

The source of the explosion is yet to be determined but appeared to be a remote controlled IED. 3 suspects have been arrested and handed over to the Somali authorities.

Sending his condolences to the family and friends of the fallen soldier, Gen Gutti praised his bravery and sacrifice. He also condemned the attack which he said had put Somali lives at risk. “We are saddened by the loss of this brave soldier though grateful that no one else was injured in the attack. It is sad that as Somalia strives to rebuild after decades of war, there are still those who would want to harm innocent citizens,” he said.

“AMISOM will not be deterred in its determination to secure the safety of the Somali people and to continue to build up the capacity of the country’s security forces,” he added.

Over the last 18 months, there has been a drastic improvement in the security situation in Mogadishu, after Somali national security forces supported by AMISOM, forced the Al Qaeda-affiliated, al Shabaab terror group to abandon fixed positions in the city. In December, the AMISOM Police component begun conducting night patrols with their counterparts in the Somali Police Force which have resulted in a significant reduction in criminal and terror attacks on the civilian population.

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