AMISOM rubbishes Ahlu Sunna claims of involvement in Guriel fighting

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: AMISOM has dismissed allegations by Ahlu Sunna Waljamaa that its forces participated in the recent deadly fighting in Guriel.

“These allegations are false, toxic and malicious, deliberately intended to cause disaffection between AMISOM and the Somali communities,’ AMISOM said in a statement. The AU body was responding to allegations by Ahlu Sunna that AMISOM forces attacked medical facilities in Guriel while backing federal and Galmudug forces.

“They (AMISOM forces ) have not provided support to the government of Somalia at either national or regional level to fight Ahlu Sunna Walja’ama, nor have they, in any way, been involved in the bloody armed confrontations between the government and Ahlu Sunna Walja’ama in Guriel town or elsewhere,” the statement added.

It said AMISOM troops were only deployed in Dhusamareb ‘for the purpose of securing the on-going electoral process as part of the National Elections Security Taskforce strategy.’

Galmudug and federal forces stormed Guriel town earlier this week following failed talks for Ahlu Sunna to vacate the town. There were no official casualty figures but Ahlu claimed 120 people from both sides were killed in the fighting.

Ahlu Sunna left Guriel on Tuesday following a deal brokered by local businessmen in Galmudug.