African Countries Condemn ISIS Attack in Moscow

African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat
African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat
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African Countries Condemn ISIS Attack in Moscow

African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat
African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat

African countries joined world leaders to condemn last Friday’s terrorist attack on a concert hall outside Moscow which killed 137 people, expressing their condolences and solidarity with Russia, a power gaining wide influence on the African continent.

African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said Saturday that the attack in which gunmen stormed the concert hall was shocking.

“I was shocked to learn of the horrific terror attack in Moscow, claiming many victims,” Faki wrote on X. “Our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and in solidarity with the people and government of the Russian Federation following this heinous attack that we condemn in the strongest terms.”

Later on Sunday, the Tanzanian government offered its condolences to the government and people of Russia, and denounced the heinous act.

“We join Russia and the international community in denouncing these heinous acts and reaffirming our commitment to combat terrorism globally,” the Tanzanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Various African countries, which enjoy security and military partnerships with Moscow, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, also condemned the attack.

African countries in the Sahel region consider Russia a strategic ally in the fight against terrorism.

Burkina Faso transitional president Ibrahim Traore expressed his “deepest condolences” over the terrorist attack in Moscow. “I condemn in the strongest terms this barbaric and cowardly act and express the solidarity of the Burkina Faso people and my solidarity with the families of the victims,” he said.

Traore added, “In the face of this heinous terrorist attack, our country is more determined than ever, in close cooperation with Russia and all partners of good will, to fight terrorists in the name of well-being of our peoples.”

A similar statement was issued from the Foreign Ministry of neighboring Mali.

The Ministry condemned the attack and expressed “deep compassion of the Malian nation to the authorities and the people of Russia.”

Similarly, Kenya termed the terrorist attack barbaric, senseless, and a counter to all fundamental principles of shared humanity.

“We convey our deep sympathies to all those affected by this heinous act,” Musalia Mudavadi, prime cabinet secretary and cabinet secretary in the Kenyan Foreign Ministry, wrote on X. “They are an assault on humanity's collective moral consciousness.”

Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba also expressed deep sadness over the callous assault, emphasizing its disregard for human life.

“I join the international community in condemnation of this heinous act, which demonstrates complete disregard for human life,” he said in a statement issued Saturday. The President then called for global action to fight terrorism.

Ethiopia also termed the attack “barbaric and a heinous terrorist attack against innocent civilians.”

Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry underscored that terrorism is a grave danger to humanity and requires the concerted efforts of countries around the world to prevent such loss of life.

In South Africa, Clayson Monyela, head of public diplomacy in the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, said the country condemns the act of terror.

“Condolences to the families of the victims, and we wish the injured speedy recoveries,” he wrote X.



Trump Says it Might Be Better to Let Ukraine and Russia 'Fight for a While'

05 June 2025, US, Washington: US President Donald Trump (R) meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office at the White House. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa Pool/dpa
05 June 2025, US, Washington: US President Donald Trump (R) meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office at the White House. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa Pool/dpa
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Trump Says it Might Be Better to Let Ukraine and Russia 'Fight for a While'

05 June 2025, US, Washington: US President Donald Trump (R) meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office at the White House. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa Pool/dpa
05 June 2025, US, Washington: US President Donald Trump (R) meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office at the White House. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa Pool/dpa

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that it might be better to let Ukraine and Russia “fight for a while” before pulling them apart and pursuing peace.

In an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump likened the war in Ukraine — which Russia invaded in early 2022 — to a fight between two young children who hated each other.

“Sometimes you’re better off letting them a fight for a while and then pulling them apart," Trump said. He added that he had relayed that analogy to Russian President Vladimir Putin in their phone conversation on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.

Asked about Trump's comments as the two leaders sat next to each other, Merz stressed that both he and Trump agreed “on this war and how terrible this war is going on,” pointing to the US president as the “key person in the world” who would be able to stop the bloodshed.

But Merz also emphasized that Germany “was on the side of Ukraine” and that Kyiv was only attacking military targets, not Russian civilians.

“We are trying to get them stronger,” Merz said of Ukraine.

Thursday's meeting marked the first time that the two leaders sat down in person. After exchanging pleasantries — Merz gave Trump a gold-framed birth certificate of the US president's grandfather Friedrich Trump, who immigrated from Germany — the two leaders were to discuss issues such as Ukraine, trade and NATO spending.

Trump and Merz have spoken several times by phone, either bilaterally or with other European leaders, since Merz took office on May 6. German officials say the two leaders have started to build a “decent” relationship, with Merz wanting to avoid the antagonism that defined Trump's relationship with one of his predecessors, Angela Merkel, in the Republican president's first term.

The 69-year-old Merz — who came to office with an extensive business background — is a conservative former rival of Merkel's who took over her party after she retired from politics.

A White House official said topics that Trump is likely to raise with Merz include Germany’s defense spending, trade, Ukraine and what the official called “democratic backsliding," saying the administration's view is that shared values such as freedom of speech have deteriorated in Germany and the country should reverse course. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the discussions.

But Merz told reporters Thursday morning that if Trump wanted to talk German domestic politics, he was ready to do that but he also stressed Germany holds back when it comes to American domestic politics.