AMISOM says will probe civilians killings in Lower Shabelle

GOOBJOOG NEWS/MOGADISHU:

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), has pledged investigations into the killing of seven civilians including soldiers in Golweyn, Lower Shabelle region.

According to AMISOM, the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF), based in Lower Shabelle region, was ambushed by Alshabaab troops on Tuesday whereby they countered the attack by exchanging killing them. They also seized firearms, rounds of ammunition, and mobile phones.

“On August 10, soldiers of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) while on a routine patrol to secure the Main Supply Route along the Beldamin-Goldawyn Forward Operating Base in the Lower Shabelle region, were ambushed and attacked by Al-Shabaab militants,” a count, that was rebutted by locals.

According to the locals, five people, two of them truck drivers, were picked and killed by the police. The truck drivers were unfortunately, using the route at the time of ambush.

One of the parents who spoke to the media immediately after the killings said, “My son and six others were mercilessly murdered by AMISOM, I call on the Federal Government of Somalia to hold AMISOM accountable for this act”

In an earlier tweet, AMISOM had maintained that the victims were members of the Alshabaab insurgency and had commended the forces for their “brave and fast action” in annihilating the enemy.

AMISOM has however now said it is going to carry out a thorough investigation on the cause of the killings and present its findings to the relevant authorities, followed by a Board of Inquiry. “AMISOM has since received reports that civilian lives were lost. Under the applicable International Humanitarian Law,(IHL) and Human Rights, AMISOM, is obliged and remains deeply committed to carrying its mandated tasks in Somalia in strict compliance with such obligations. To this end, AMISOM has launched a through investigation into the reported incident.

This comes at a time when the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), is set to hold a meeting on matters Somalia. James Swan and AMISOM head/AU envoy, Francisco Madeira, will brief the Council on the latest situation on politics, security, and the ongoing election.