KDF air strikes in Gedo a war crime, Somalia says, calls for UN probe

GOOBJOOG NEWS|NEW YORK: The June 3 airstrikes by Kenya Defence Forces which reportedly resulted in the death of one woman and injury of five children constitute war crimes and must be investigated by the International Criminal Court and the UN Secretary-General, Somalia has said.

Barely a day after the two countries committed to reopen their respective embassies following the resumption of diplomatic relations, the recent charges by Somalia could once again put the two countries on another diplomatic unease.

Somalia’s Permanent Representative at the UN Abukar Osman presented photos of children whom he said were injured during the airstrikes in El Adde and Hisa-Ugur areas in the Gedo region demanding investigations. Osman told the Council the airstrikes that led to one woman’s death and destroyed property amounted to war crimes.

“The nature of the widespread and systematic attacks of more than twenty air raids on civilian populations and infrastructure by Kenyan forces rises to the distinction of war crimes under international law,” the Somali diplomat told the Council.

“These violations by Kenya warrant an immediate investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC), equally important the office of the special representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict should urgently investigate these violations against or children.”

Abukar also called for a ‘strong stance’ by the UN Security Council. The five children were airlifted to Mogadishu. Kenya has since not responded to the charges.

The two countries committed this week to restore diplomatic relations and reopen their Nairobi and Mogadishu embassies after almost an eight-month freeze.