Two Chinese nationals were among more than 50 people injured in a deadly terrorist attack in the southern Somalian city of Kismayo that claimed 26 lives, the authorities said on Saturday.
The 12-hour attack on a popular hotel was claimed by Al-Shabaab jihadists, which declared their allegiance to Al-Qaeda in 2012. A suicide bomber rammed a vehicle loaded with explosives into the Medina Hotel on Friday before several heavily armed gunmen forced their way inside, shooting as they went, authorities said.
It was the largest coordinated attack by the Shabaab in Kismayo since 2012 when it lost control of the city.
Packed with politicians and prominent businessmen, a meeting was underway in the hotel for upcoming presidential elections in Jubaland, due in August.
One of the candidates in the election died in the siege, local authorities said.
The U.S. Mission to Somalia condemned the attack and said it would "continue to work with our Somali and other international partners in the fight against violent extremism."
The African Union's Special Representative in Somalia, Francisco Madeira, said the attack was "meant to derail progress in Somalia as the country rebuilds and consolidates the gains made on peace and security."
"The attackers are a group of people with a criminal, murderous and destructive agenda. They cannot claim to be fighting to bring good governance to the country," he said.
Al-Shabaab's troop strength are variously estimated at 7,000 to 9,000 militants in 2014. The group has retreated from the major cities in 2015, however it still controls large parts of the rural areas and has been responsible for exceptionally deadly terrorist attacks such as the Westgate shopping mall attack and the 14 October Mogadishu bombings.
Updated at 20:50 BJT
Two Chinese nationals were among more than 50 people injured in a deadly terrorist attack in the southern Somalian city of Kismayo that claimed 26 lives, the authorities said on Saturday.
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed condemned the attack and called on Somalis to unite to defeat relentless terrorism.
"I strongly condemn the heinous act at the hotel in Kismayo. I convey my condolences to the relatives of those who died in the attack and wish a speedy recovery to the injured ones," the president said in a statement.
Al-Qaida allied group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out by four of its fighters who entered the building with a car laden with explosives.
Updated at 18:51 BJT
Among the dead were three Kenyans, three Tanzanians, two Americans, a Briton, one Canadian, a presidential candidate for upcoming regional elections and Somali-Canadian journalist Hodan Nalayeh and her husband, Jubaland region's president said on Saturday.
The Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Ahmed Mohamed said in a statement.
The regional president confirmed that of the more than 50 people injured, two were Chinese.
The Chinese embassy in Somalia said it has contacted the families and provided assistance.
A suicide bomber rammed a vehicle loaded with explosives into the Medina hotel in the port town of Kismayo on Friday before several heavily armed gunmen forced their way inside, shooting as they went, authorities said.
The siege lasted almost 12 hours, only ending when security forces shot dead four attackers on Saturday morning.
(with input from agencies)
