CRIME WATCH: REGION RANKINGS- TOTAL DEATHS
Despite efforts by the Somali government with the support of AMISOM to beef up security in the country, the death toll in the last four months has gradually gone up.
The casualty sequences as of May, June, July, August, September and November, are 82, 144, 161, 190, 147 and 163 respectively.
In light of this, under our monthly Crime Watch Project we document the killings and numbers of those injured every month. 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 across Somalia, 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.
According to our records, 163 people were killed and 199 others wounded in the month of November 2015. This is an increase of 11 % from the month of September which recorded 147 deaths and there is an increase in the number of wounded people which is close to triple of that one of last month.
The demographic distribution of the victims is diverse including AMISOM soldiers, government officials, business people, journalists and ordinary people among others.
We ranked regions in descending way according number of the death toll.
The following is the events in the month of September:
1.MUDUG REGION
49 killed and 123 others injured
This region leads the death toll and number of injured people of all regions recorded in the month November.
Apart from the sides who confronted, over thirty civilians were killed and 100 others were injured.
40000 people were displaced following two consecutive clashes between Galmudug and Puntland forces.
Apart from rescuing foreigners by Galmudug, both Puntland and Galmudug administrations shed the blood of Somali people who were tired of being victim of two struggling powers.
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 this month under the administration of two educated leaders.
November 5, 2015: Galmudug forces rescue four foreigners who were in the hands of pirates following a tip from local Somalis.
November 14, 2015: Half an hour infighting among Puntland forces leads death of two others and injury of eleven others in Galkaayo.
November 15, 2015: Four people died and five others injured after Puntland soldiers opened fire on a car carrying an injured person to the hospital in Galkaayo.
November 22, 2015: 11 people have been killed and 43 injured in clash between Galmudug and Puntland forces in Galkaayo town.
November 28, 2015: 32 people have been killed and 65 other injured in renewed clashes between Puntland and Galmudug forces in Galkaayo.
2 . HIRAN REGION
Death toll 41, 3 injuries
This region ranked the second region with 34 death toll and three 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.
November 2, 2015: Fighting between Somali government and Al-Shabab fighters leaves ten people dead Hiran region.
November 7, 2015: The Ethiopian paramilitary police known as Lyuu police were confirmed to have killed over 23 civilians including women and Children at Somalia-Ethiopia border.
November 9, 2015: The government soldiers allegedly kill four civilians at Garisiyani locality but the government accuses those killed being Al-Shabab members.
November 15, 2015: Mahdi Hussein Ma’ow, a field officer with the United Nations’ Mine Action Service (UNMAS) was killed after armed troops opened fire on his car in Hawatako locality in Baladweyne town.
November 21, 2015: One die and three others sustain injuries in an explosion at tea-shop in Bulla-burde town.
November 27, 2015: A man died after he was allegedly poisoned by his wife last night in Baladweyn town, police said.
The woman who killed her husband by poisoning his food with rat poison was arrested by the police.
November 28, 2015: Four people killed in what revenge attacks in areas under Bulo-Burde district.
3.BENADIR REGION
39 killed in Mogadishu 45
This region has filled third position with 39 death toll and 45 injuries. 28% the death toll befall on hungry IDPs who were seeking food cards but lost their lives in the hands of government soldiers whereas 30% of the death toll caused explosion carried by Al-Shabab fighters according the Group’s spokesman Abdiaziz Abu-mus’ab. 23% those died this month were either assassinated or shot dead by unknown people but the remaining 19% died lack proper health or because of spousal disputes. Mogadishu witnessed deadly attacks Al-Shabab fighters and individuals who run personal interests but now seems recovering bit by bit.
November 1, 2015: At least 12 people killed and 27 others injured after Shebab gunmen used a vehicle packed with explosives to blast their way inside a hotel.
After the car bomb ripped a hole in the hotel’s fortified walls, gunmen stormed the building firing semi-automatic rifles and throwing grenades.
Al-Shebab claimed responsibility for the dawn attack at the Sahafi hotel, which is popular with members of parliament, government employees and businessmen.
-Among those killed in the attack are
-Former SNA chief, Abdikarin Dhagabadan
-The owner of the hotel, Abdirashid Shire Ilqeyte
-Federal MP, Abdi Mohamed Abtidoon
November 7, 2015: Federal lawmaker Mohamed Ahmed Gurhan succumbs to injuries following a fatal drive-by-shooting while on his way to parliament in Hamareyne area of Mogadishu
November 8, 2015: Three IDP children were killed and 4 others including their parents, sustained injuries after a perimeter wall collapsed on their small hut made of cardboard and old rugs inside camp following the heavy rains that have been pounding.
November 9, 2015: An aviation official was shot dead in Wadajir district, Mogadishu by unknown assailants.
November 12, 2015: Somali government officer killed in Hodan district by unknown assailants.
November 16, 2015: At least 11 people killed in Mogadishu after rival Somali security forces argued over who was in charge.
The security forces opened fire while people queued for food cards at a camp for internally displaced people.
The mayor of Mogadishu Yusuf Hussein Jimale said some suspects had already been arrested and others will follow.
November 17, 2015: Residents of Mogadishu woke up to the shocking news of a woman who killed her husband after dispute between the couple. The woman slit her husband’s throat with a kitchen knife.
November 18, 2015: One of Dharkeynley district officers and two other women sustain injuries in a landmine explosion near Dabakaayo-madow bus-park
November 19, 2015: Four siblings died and one hospitalised in critical condition following a failed self medication by their parent in Yakshid district, Mogadishu.
November 19, 2015: A gunman kills a woman named Ubah Dubad before he was killed by the government forces.
November 25, 2015: One of the directors of Ministry for internal Security, Siyad Mohamud Abdirahman was seriously injured in district.
November 26, 2015: Two local government officers shot dead in Dharkeyley district.
November 26, 2015: Two local government officers killed in Wadajir district.
4.GEDO REGION
16 killed, 4 injured
Gedo region positioned fourth: This region is situated the most southerly point of the nation, it has border with Kenya and Ethiopia. Almost 63% 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-Shabab 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.
November 2, 2015: Infighting among Government soldiers in Bulla Hawa town causes death of six people.
November 2, 2015: Adriver dies after unidentified gunmen open fire on privete car heading to Garbaharey town.
zstrong>November 5, 2015: Five people were killed and 4 others were injured when gunmen opened fire at the Café in Bula-Hawa, where dozens of people were taking tea.
November 10, 2015: Unidentified gunmen kill a man in Bulahawa town.
November 11, 2015: Two people dead including NGO driver and two others sustained injuries after gunmen dressed in SNA uniform attacked a vehicle of local NGO operating in Bulla-Hawa.
November 21, 2015: Young men armed with pistols kill a man named Muse Hussien Abdirahman in Bulla-hawa town.
5, LOWER SHABELLE REGION
8 killed, 5 injured, 3 missing
Position five, Lower Shabelle which is the next to the capital city has witnessed atrocities committed by AMISOM troops and Al-Shabab fighters. 50% of those killed were civilians who lost their dear lives because of impunity. They were killed by AMISOM troops who normally open fire on the civilians after explosions. 25% death was caused by unknown people whereas the rest caused by explosion.
This region has reported he first case disappearance where AMISOM allegedly arrested three and were still missing at the time of compiling this report.
November 3, 2015: Soldiers of African Union Peace Mission (AMISOM) allegedly kill one person and goes away with three other from Baligoodle locality.
November 14, 2015: Armen men attacks on a Security forces base and kill one person while two civilians sustain injuries after stray bullets strike them in the out skirt of Mogadishu.
November 15, 2015: One person was killed when gunmen opened fire at the Café, in Marka town.
November 19, 2015: Two government soldiers killed after landmine buried inside their home went off Afgoye town.
November 21, 2015: Three were confirmed dead and 5 other sustain injures in mass shooting by AMISOM troops after explosion hit AMISOM armour vehicle in Marka town.
7. LOWER JUBBA
6 killed, 6 injured
The region grabs position six with all incidents occurred in the hands of Jubbaland forces supported by Kenya Defence forces. The Goobjoog News tried to contact the administration but was fruitless. The anti-shabab operation by Jubbaland forces and KDF has so far claimed lives of civilians according to relatives of the victims, who contacted Goobjoog News.
November 4, 2015: Jubbaland forces backed by AMISOM troops allegedly kill two people and wound 6 others in Qooqani locality.
November 4, 2015: Two people reportedly killed by KDF in the outskirt of Kismayo town.
November 12, 2015: Jubbaland forces kill a well known trader named Cali Noor Shariif in Kismayo town
November 14, 2015: One person dies after Jubbaland forces clashes with armed men in Kismayo town.
7. GALGADUUD REGION
3 killed ,12 hospitalised
Position seven taken over by this as it recorded only 3 death toll.
November 11, 2015: Unknown armed men open fire on a car heading to Balanballe town, where three passengers died and three sustained injuries.
November 24, 2015: At least 9 people were admitted to Adado Hospital in Galgaduud region after taking contaminated and milk.
8 MIDDLE SHABELLE
Death 1, injury 1
This region is the only one to have bucked the trend of rising crimes. Only one incident occurred in the region which presumably carried out hungry soldiers who wanted to rob the passengers but opened on the minibus after driver failed stop the bus.
November 27, 2015: At least one person died and another one injured after Somali government soldiers allegedly opened fire on a mini-bus in Buurane locality of Middle Shabelle region.
The minibus which was reportedly heading to Galkaayo town was indiscriminately fired by gunmen in Somali National Army (SNA) uniform.
By: Ahmed Mohamed Adan