The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned the terrorist attack on 26 February 2016 on a hotel close to the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu, the Somali capital. The OIC Secretary General, Iyad Amin Madani expressed dismay at the cowardly attack which claimed the lives of nine innocent people and the five terrorist attackers believed to be Al-Shabab militants, and denounced the act as a negation of all human values with the intent to hold back the progress being witnessed in Somalia. He conveyed his deep sympathy to the families of the deceased as well as the government of Somalia and prayed for the quick recovery for of the injured, appealing to militants to abandon their futile approach to impose a reign of terror on Somalia and instead join the peace building process. He also reaffirmed the determination of the OIC to continue to support and contribute to the stabilization of the country.