AU condemns attack on Koulfoua island
Terrorism and violent extremism would not be tolerated on the African continent, the African Union Commission said in the wake of terrorist attacks on the island of Koulfoua in Lake Chad.
Triple suicide bomber attacks on Saturday on Koulfoua on the Chadian side of Lake Chad left over 15 people dead and scores injured.
The attacks have been blamed on Boko Haram, the insurgent Nigerian Islamist group.
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, AUC Chairperson, strongly condemned terrorist activities in the region and on the continent, saying these “dastardly attacks” would not be tolerated.
“These attacks are a stark reminder of the continued threat posed by terrorism and violent extremism in Africa,” she said.
She said the AUC stood in solidarity with Chad’s government and people, and the organisation sent its “heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wishes speedy recovery to the wounded.”
Dlamini-Zuma called on African states to urgently work together in solidarity and cooperation “to combat this scourge” and ensure the continent’s peace and security.
She said the AUC would continue to work with member states to increase efforts to stamp out terrorism, and these efforts included working within the context of the Multinational Joint Task Force which was established by member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin.
The task force team, she said, was specifically established “to combat the Boko Haram terrorist group.”
Dlamini-Zuma appealed to the international community to assist the African continent in effectively addressing these challenges threatening the continent’s peace and security.
The AUC, Dlamini-Zuma emphasised, has a stance of “total rejection of terrorism and violent extremism, which cannot be justified under any circumstances”.