AU admits killing six civilians near Qoryooley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The African Union mission in Somalia has admitted to have killed six civilians travelling in a minibus in the outskirt of Qoryooley town.

AU body said on Monday its troops had killed six people in a minibus after the driver refused to stop the car at a checkpoint.

“The minibus approaching the roadblock was ordered to stop but the driver defied the order and reversed the vehicle in haste, forcing our troops to shoot, killing six people in the minibus,” said AU in a statement on Monday.

AMISOM said that in an incident near the port city, a convoy of its vehicles was “ambushed by Al-Shabaab militants after it hit an improvised explosive device (IED).

“Our troops fought off the attackers and managed to arrest one of the fighters. By the time AMISOM left the area, no civilian casualty had occurred.” the statement highlighted.

The statement said AMISOM and the Federal Government of Somalia have launched investigations into the two incidents and appropriate action will be taken once completed.

The sentiment comes barely a day after AU soldiers killed 11 civilians in two separate incidents in Lower Shabelle region.

One of the incidents happened after armored vehicle belonging to the AU ran over some homes late Sunday after a landmine blast hit an AU convoy at El-Wareegow village near Marka. Three children and a baby were killed in the incident.

The leaders of Somali Federal government have not issued a statement on both incidents which have created anger among the Somali communities.