The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, strongly condemns the suicide attack, on Wednesday 16 March 2016, at a mosque in the north-eastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri. The attack, that was reportedly carried out by two female suicide bombers, resulted in the death of 22 worshippers and left 18 others wounded.

While commiserating with the Government and people of Nigeria for the loss of life due to the attack, the Chairperson of the Commission applauds the Nigerian Government for its commitment to combat terrorism, not only in Nigeria, but in the wider Lake Chad Basin and Sahel regions.

However, The Chairperson of the Commission notes with dismay that the terrorist attacks that Africa continues to experience are a stark reminder of the continued threat of terrorism on the continent, and stresses the need for enhanced efforts by AU Member States, and also the  wider international community, to combat this scourge, in line with African and international counterterrorism instruments. She reiterates the AU’s continued commitment, through the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) established by the Member States of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin, to neutralize and eliminate the Boko Haram terrorist group.