ADDIS ABABA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African bloc, on Sunday condemned the attack on the Ugandan contingent of African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) forces.
"We strongly condemn Friday's heinous terrorist attack on the Ugandan contingent of ATMIS forces in Bulo Marer town in Lower Shabelle region," the IGAD said in a statement issued via social media on Sunday.
"We convey our heartfelt sympathies to the families of those affected and with the AU (African Union) family," it added.
The East African bloc further reiterated its strong support to the government and people of Somalia in the fight against terrorism.
"We must stand together in solidarity with the government and the Somali people in their fight against terrorism and in their efforts toward building a peaceful and stable Somalia," it said.
On Saturday, the Ugandan military said it has sent a team of experts to investigate the Friday attack on its troops in Somalia by the al-Shabaab militant group.
Uganda is one of the troop-contributing countries to the ATMIS battling terrorists in Somalia. Others are Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia.
The Ugandan army is yet to establish the number of casualties. The al-Shabaab, however, claims to have killed more than 130 soldiers. ■