Two foreign workers working for the United Nations have been shot dead by unknown gunmen on Monday at Galkayo city’s airport in north-central Somalia.

Galkayo lies about 574km north of capital the Mogadishu on the border with the semi-autonomous region of Puntland in Somalia.

They were identified as a Briton and French nationals and were consultants working for the United Nations anti-drugs agency in the semi-autonomous Puntland region.

Local reporters say it is unclear who was behind the killings. But one witness told reporters that they were attacked by a man in a police uniform after they got off from a plane at the airport.

There were local media reports that al-Shabab militants fighting the Somali government were seen celebrating the attack but refused to confirm or deny responsibility of the attack.

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay told reporters that the two men were working to improve Somalia and condemned the attack.

“Our UN colleagues were working in support of the Somali people’s aspiration for a peaceful and stable future; there can be no justification for such a callous attack’’.

“I call on the authorities to conduct a full investigation immediately and bring the perpetrators to justice without delay”, he said.

The United Nations Security Council has also strongly condemned the attack and called on Somali authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“The members of the Security Council are appalled that individuals working to support the people of Somalia have been killed as they sought to help Somalia progress towards peace and prosperity,” the 15-member council said in a statement.

The UK’s Foreign Secretary, William Hague confirmed the death of the British national and added that he condemn these brutal murders in the strongest terms.

Somalia’s Puntland region has traditionally been more stable than the rest of the country but in recent months attacks there by al Shabaab militants have increased.

Al Shabab lost control of the capital, Mogadishu in 2011, but has stepped up its attacks in guerrilla warfare manner in other areas of the country.

Al Shabab fighters stormed the seat of government in Mogadishu and killed 11 people in February this year. They have also carried out a lot deadly attacks in neighboring Kenya.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

Writer’s Email Address: Adamsisska@googlemail.com

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