2016 Crime watch Report: Over 1400 people killed across Somalia
Goobjoog News Crime Watch Project documents the killings and numbers of those injured 2016 in Somalia. The project seeks to promote justice and constitutional rights of citizens.
We may not be able to document all the killings or cases of injuries due to the scarce resources and sometimes lack of access to the affected areas in the country. Inadequate basic institutions in the country such as hospitals, mortuaries and police services which ideally gather such information are also an impediment to getting accurate and up to date data.
At least 1400 people died in crime and related offences across Somalia in the year 2016.
The diseased lost their lives to either explosion or clashes between clans or states ( Puntland and Galmudug ) while others were assassinated gunmen.
Majority of the single instance deaths occurred as a result of bomb explosions.
Based on our records, at least 943 people were injured in various crime and related offences countrywide.
In 2016, according to our report, Somalia’s capital city, Mogadishu (Banaadir) has garnered the highest death toll and injuries across Somalia with over three hundred and seven people killed and 423 wounded across the capital.
Most of the victims had been affected over 20 deadly explosions that happened in Mogadishu.
The second deadly place on our list was identified to be Hiraan region which witnessed several deadly clashes between armed clan militias or Al-Shabaab and Somali government soldiers.
This region ranked the second region with 237 death toll and 46 injuries. A part from one incident where a woman allegedly poisoned her husband, the rest have occurred in the hands of armed forces.
Hiraan has problems of recurrent clan clashes and conflicts between pastoralists and Ethiopian paramilitary forces who killed over twenty for the third time within this year.
Position third, Lower Shebelle which is the next to the capital city has witnessed atrocities committed by AMISOM troops and Al-Shabaab fighters.
215 death toll and 84 injuries were reported as per our record throughout the year.
Over 170 of those killed were civilians who lost their dear lives because of impunity.
Some of them were killed by AMISOM troops who normally open fire on the civilians after explosions.
The rest of the death toll was caused by unknown gunmen and explosions.
This region has reported case disappearance where AMISOM allegedly arrested people and were still missing at the time of compiling this report.
Mudug region has filled fourth position with 147 death toll and 97 injuries as per our record throughout the year.
Apart from the sides who confronted, over thirty civilians were killed and 100 others were injured.
140,000 people were displaced following over four consecutive clashes between Galmudug and Puntland forces.
Most of the deaths occurred in Galkaayo of Mudug region.
In 1990s Galgayo town was divided into sections, the southern and Northern by warlords namely late Abdullahi Yussuf and late Mohamed Farah Aidid. Effect of that partition was seen again last year under the administration of two educated leaders.
Bay region grabs position fifth with all incidents occurred in the hands of Al-Shabaab and government forces.
107 people were killed and 91 others were injured in the region for the last twelve months.
The Goobjoog News tried to contact the administration but was fruitless. The anti-Al-shabaab operation by joint forces (Somali and AMISOM forces) has so far claimed lives of civilians according to our record.
Position six taken over by Galgudud as it recorded 106 death toll and 89 injuries.
Lower Juba fills seventh position as our record indicates 68 deaths and fifteen injuries.
Middle Shebelle region has hangs position eight with 54 death toll and 29 injuries.
Somalia’s Northwest region which controlled the breakaway Somaliland administration sit on ninth position as it has recorded 51 deaths caused by either the police or armed men.
Gedo region which was positioned at tenth stage with 46 deaths and fifty six injuries, is situated the most southerly point of the nation, it has border with Kenya and Ethiopia. Almost 50% of killings were carried out by unknown people while the rest died in the hands of the government soldiers.
Here, soldiers-in-flight, clan clashes and fighting between Al-Shabaab and government have became norm.
Most of the towns namely: Luuq, Dollo, Garbaharey, Elwak, Bulahawo are all in the hands of Somali government yet there are obstacles lying head, (a) Al-Shabab attacks (B) unknown people who always hunt the intellectuals and other civil society member either for clan revenge or because of post.
Bakool region recorded as eleventh position as our team recorded deaths of 38
Middle Jubba has been mentioned as the 12th from the top as it records death toll of 17 and two injuries.
Bari region which witnessed number of top official’s assassination has been positioned at 13th.
Bossaso, the provisional headquarters of Bare was shocked with well coordinated assassinations against Puntland officials.
Sixteen people were killed and eight others wound since beginning of last year.
Sool region is ranked second lowest region of all Somalia’s regions with thirteen deaths and four injuries.
Togdheer region is the only one to have bucked the trend of rising crimes. Only one incident occurred in the region which presumably carried out by a soldier who killed one civilian and injured another.
Ahmed Mohamed Adan
Goobjoog News