The Government of Rwanda has extended condolences to Kenyans following terrible Westgate tragedy that killed over 59 people and wounding dozens more in a massacre claimed by Somalia’s Al Qaeda-inspired Shebab rebels.
Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, twitted her message.” Rwanda extends condolences to our Kenyan brothers and sisters on terrible Westgate tragedy,” she said.
Yesterday, a group of gunmen stormed a shopping mall at Westgate and killed killing 30 people and wounding dozens more in a massacre.
Uganda’s Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi said on twitter that” Uganda condemns in the strongest terms possible the senseless act of terrorism in Nairobi Kenya. Our sympathies are with the victims.” An official full statement is expected from Government.
The rebels said the carnage was in direct retaliation for Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia, where African Union troops are battling the Islamists.
“The Mujahideen entered Westgate Mall today at around noon and are still inside the mall, fighting the Kenyan Kuffar (infidels) inside their own turf,” the group said on Twitter.
The Shebab tweet said the group’s warnings over Kenya’s military presence in Somalia had been ignored.
Shebab “on numerous occasions warned the Kenyan government that failure to remove its forces from Somalia would have severe consequences,” it said.
Kenyan forces entered Somalia two years ago to fight the Shebab, and remain in the country as part of an African Union force that is supporting Somalia’s internationally backed government.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is following the attack “closely and with alarm”, a statement from his office said.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Twitter that his country was “in close touch with Kenyan authorities on the attack in Nairobi. Our urgent priority is the welfare of UK nationals.”
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