Ext/Assembly/AU/Decl.3(Oct.2013) DECLARATION OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA FOLLOWING THE TERRORIST AL-SHABAB/AL-QUAEDA ATTACK ON THE WESTGATE SHOPPING MALL IN NAIROBI, KENYA We, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, meeting in our Extraordinary Session, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 12 October 2013: Deeply concerned about the terrorist Al-Shabab/Al-Qaeda attack on the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi on 21 September 2013; Hereby, 1. CONDEMN with utmost firmness this cowardly and vicious act of aggression against a Member State of the African Union; 2. COMMEND the prompt and firm response by the Kenyan authorities, which frustrated the criminal designs of the terrorist Al-Shabab/Al-Qaeda gangs and thereby saved hundreds of human lives and prevented incalculable material damage; 3. EXPRESS our full solidarity with the Government and people of Kenya; 4. EXPRESS our sincere condolences and deep sympathy to the Government and people of Kenya and the families of the victims of this despicable terrorist act; 5. NOTE that the terrorist aggression against Kenya is not only an act against Kenya but also against the security and stability of Africa as a whole. It testifies to the terrorist threats which target Member States in various parts of Africa. The response demonstrates the determination and unwavering approach of the African Union in combatting the scourge of terrorism and other related phenomena such as organized international crime; 6. SEIZE this opportunity to reaffirm the full commitment of the African Union to spare no effort to permanently avert these threats to the security, stability and development of the African continent and to combine its efforts with the East African region and the rest of the international community in the fight against the terrorist Al-Shabab/Al-Qaeda group in Somalia and in the region.