Pretoria – The recent terrorist attacks, which claimed the lives of more than 34 soldiers and injured many in Sinai, Egypt, have been condemned by the South African government in the “strongest possible terms”.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said government sends it deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, the people and the government of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
It also wished the injured a speedy recovery.
“South Africa regrets the fact that the attack happens at the time when the Arab Republic of Egypt has ascended its role in the region having mediated in the Israeli/Palestine conflict and initiated efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region,” said the department.
It added that Pretoria supports the announcement made by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, on the need for continued and coordinated African efforts to prevent and combat the scourge of terrorism as agreed upon by the AU Peace and Security Council in September.
On Monday, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al- Sisi issued a decree allowing military trials for civilians suspected of attacking the country's essential infrastructures, even institutions not belonging to the army.
The decree came after a deadly attack on Friday on an army checkpoint in Sinai that killed 33 soldiers.
The president has also declared a three-month state of emergency in north and central Sinai, with a curfew from 5pm to 7am.
On Wednesday, a bomb went off outside Cairo University in central Giza, injuring at least 10 people, including six policemen.
Earlier on Sunday, another seven soldiers were killed and four others injured in an explosion that hit their vehicle in Arish city in northern Sinai. – SAnews.gov.za-Xinhua
