AMISOM to probe civilian deaths in central Somalia

African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) will be launching an investigation into the death of seven people in central Somalia after a fire fight with Al-Shabaab on Wednesday, the Mission said in statement on Saturday.

African Union peacekeepers allegedly killed seven people reported to be civilians in El Buur town of Galgaduud region after they came under attack from Al-Shabaab fighters.

In a twitter post Saturday, AMISOM said its convoy which was traveling toward El Buur foiled an Al-Shabaab ambush and inflicted heavy casualties on Al-Shabaab fighters. But it denied there were any deaths.

“AMISOM is aware of allegations in the media of civilian deaths attributed to its troops. It’s not aware of such deaths,” AMISOM said.

AMISOM said its troops took utmost care to protect civilians in all its operations, adding that all allegations are investigated with relevant Somali authorities.

However, witnesses who asked not to be named said the Ethiopian forces arrived at Elbur town after the attack and opened fire indiscriminately on civilians, most of them elderly and decent religious men.

In April, AMISOM troops killed four civilians near Bulla Marer in southern Somalia in what the AU mission called an accident, sparking protests by locals.

In July, AMISOM troops were accused of killing 14 civilians and injuring three others in Wardiinle location, southern Somalia.

AU troops have battled Al Shabaab insurgents in central and southern Somalia alongside Somali National Army (SNA) for years as part of stabilization efforts.