Event Summary
- Tuesday 21st July 2015, African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) strongly refutes the allegations circulated in the media claiming that AMISOM soldiers are killing civilians in Marka town.
- AMISOM clarify on what happened during the troop’s regular patrols, AMISOM encountered an Al Shabaab training base at Juujomo close to El Hindi Village.
- Gun battle ensued to dislodge the Al Shabaab terrorists; AMISOM soldiers killed five Islamist militants, including a senior leader of al-Shabaab Mohammed Dahir.
- Two riffles, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), an instruction board and the Al Shabaab flag were also recovered from the scene by the forces.
Analysis
African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) through a press release on Tuesday clarified on allegation that has circulated on the media claiming that the soldiers are killing civilians in the town of Marka.
These allegations have been published by many media via their websites without authenticating the source of their information.
AMISOM operates in-line with Roles of Engagement (RoE) which are in consonance with international Humanitarian Law.
The troops are under obligation to avoid civilian casualties and exercises minimum restraint even when under imminent attack.
Forecast
AMISOM will continue to conducting patrols to ensure the safety and security of the population in the areas under their command.
The mission categorically denied reports in the local and international media that soldiers killed civilians in the coastal town of Marka. Media publishing unauthenticated information can cause mistrust delving the forces missions and obligations in Somalia.
AMISOM has committed more than 20,000 forces from five African nations – Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti – supporting Somali troops in battling Al-Shabaab militants.
