The Aqaba Process is an initiative launched in 2015 by the king in the namesake Jordanian city for enhancing international cooperation against extremism and terrorism…reports Asian Lite News
King Abdullah II of Jordan took part in the Aqaba Process meetings with the presidents of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mozambique, and Tanzania’s prime minister in Jordan’s coastal city Aqaba, the Royal Hashemite Court said in a statement.
During the new round of the Aqaba Process meetings, the participants highlighted the importance of continuously countering the threats of terrorist and extremist groups.
They also urged the ongoing cooperation and exchange of expertise to prevent the expansion of terrorist groups into new areas.
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Representatives of military and security agencies from African, European, East Asian, and Latin American countries also joined the meeting, the statement added.
The Aqaba Process is an initiative launched in 2015 by the king in the namesake Jordanian city for enhancing international cooperation against extremism and terrorism.
Blasts in Somalia
At least 15 people were killed and an unknown number of others injured in two explosions in the central Somali town of Beledweyne Wednesday night, the police said.
Local police officers told a state-owned television station that among the dead were Amina Mohamed Abdi, an outspoken lawmaker, former lawmaker Hassan Dhuhulow and soldiers.
A suicide bomber wearing explosive vests wrapped around his waist detonated explosives in front of a heavily secured Lamagalaay base, killing the two lawmakers who were candidates for the Lower House seats.
According to the police, the second blast took place at a security checkpoint, targeting vehicles for rushing the injured to the hospitals but no casualties were reported.
Witnesses said Amina, a fierce critic of President Mohamed Farmaajo who was in Beledweyne to campaign for re-election, appeared to have been targeted inside the Lamagalaay base where polls have been taking place over the past weeks.
President Mohamed Farmaajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Roble have separately condemned the terror incident and sent their condolences to the family and relatives of the deceased.
Farmaajo described the attack as a coward one by the militant group which he said bears the hallmarks of the terror outfit’s main focus of killing innocent people.
Roble said the deceased lawmaker is known for her role in the struggle for justice for the late female intelligence agent Ikran Tahliil who was killed in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, last year. “Lawmaker Amina, who is known for her role in the struggle for justice for the late Tahliil, and a few days ago an attempt was made to make her lose her seat, was assassinated in an attempt to defeat justice.”
Early this month, Amina had complained of attempts by security agents to block her from seeking reelection due to her strong condemnation over the murder of a female intelligence officer.
Roble assured the Somalis that despite increased terrorist attacks across the country, the ongoing elections will proceed as scheduled and called on the citizens to remain vigilant and support the ongoing elections.
The prime minister has ordered a thorough investigation into the killing of the lawmakers and vowed to defeat terrorism.
The attack comes only hours after al-Shabab attacked Mogadishu’s heavily guarded airport Wednesday in which six people were killed.
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