CRIME WATCH: REGION RANKINGS- TOTAL DEATHS IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER
By: Ahmed Mohamed Adan
With the efforts by the Somali government with the support of AMISOM to beef up security in the country, the death toll in the last month has gradually gone down.
The number of death toll drastically dropped in the month of December when compared to the rest of months of 2015
The casualty sequences as of May, June, July, August, September, November and December, 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 hospital mortuaries and police services that ideally gather such information are also an impediment to getting accurate and up to date data.
According to our records, 31 people were killed and 79 others were wounded in the month of December 2015. This is an decrease of 81 % from the month of November that recorded 163 deaths and there was also 60% decrease of the number of those injured.
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 order according number of the death toll.
The following is the events in the month of September
1. Benadir region
Deaths: 13, injured: 30
Benadir recorded highest number of deaths in December compared to any other region in the country. Explosions presumably carried out by Al-Shabab caused 53% of the death toll. 30% those died this month were either assassinated or shot dead by unknown people the remaining 17% which majority of the number are government soldiers were killed by AMISOM troops.
Mogadishu witnessed deadly attacks from Al-Shabab fighters and unknown assailants.
December 2, 2015: Unidentified gunmen kill SNA soldier identified as Salah Arab at Salaam neighbourhood of Dharkeyley district in Mogadishu
December 3, 2015: Hindia Haji Mohamed, a journalist for two state-run news outlets (Radio Mogadishu and SNTV) was killed by a car bomb in Mogadishu, according to news reports.
The explosion also injured a student from Somali International University, Abdishitar Mukhtar Abubakar who happened to be near the scene during the explosion.
December 6, 2015:At least two civilians died and three others sustained injuries after road roadside landmine went off near a restaurant at Mogadishu’s industrial area. The target of the explosion yet remains unknown.
December 10, 2015: A car suspected to have laden with explosives explodes near Dabka junction leaving behind two people injured including the driver of the car.
December 13, 2015: A body of a man allegedly killed by African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops while vandalizing solar-power lights, was found dead in Mogadishu.
December 14, 2015:One of United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) staff members, Amina Noor Mohamed, was shot and killed by unknown gunmen in Somalia’s capital city. Mohamed, who had been working as a senior community services assistant with the agency in Mogadishu since 2011, was attacked while traveling in a car driven by a staff member from a UNHCR partner organization, who was also killed.
December 16, 2015: Unknown gunmen killed a civilian in Yaqshiid district. The motive behind the killing is yet unknown.
December 17, 2015: At least one government soldier has been confirmed dead and 2 others wounded after their truck was hit and run over by African Union personnel carrier at Kilometer-Thirteen locality outside Mogadishu..
The incident came after a speedy AMISOM convoy hit army vehicle full of Somalia National Army (SNA) troops travelling just outside the capital city of Mogadishu, witnesses said.
December 19, 2015: Governor of the central Somalia’s Galgadud region Hussein Wehliye Irfo says he had survived an assassination attempt by suspected Al-Shabab fighters who opened fire on his car in the capital Mogadishu.
December 19, 2015: A car bomb explodes on a busy street in Somali capital Mogadishu, killing at least three people and wounding at least eight, according to police.
2 . HIIRAAN REGION
Death:4, injured: 32
This region ranked the second region with 4 deaths and 32 injuries. 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.
December 11, 2015:Gunmen kill three people and injured two others at Toro-borow market in Baladweyne town.
December 13, 2015: At least five people were killed and more than thirty people injured after fierce fighting between two clan militias broke out Baladweyne, the provincial headquarter of Hiraan, residents said.
Abdi Omar, a resident in Baladweyne told Goobjoog News, the clash erupted after militias attacked base of another clan militias in Howl-wadaag neighbourhood.
3. Lower Shabele region
Two deaths 6 injuries
Lower Shabelle which is next to the capital city has witnessed atrocities committed by AMISOM troops, Al-Shabab fighters and militias who are loyal to clans in the region. 100% of those died this month were shot dead by unknown people.
December 1, 2015: Unknown gunmen shot dead the driver of a mini bus that was heading to Mogadishu.
It was not immediately possible to establish why the man was killed. Passengers traveling in the mini bus escaped unhurt.
December 8, 2015: Unidentified young men armed with pistols gunned down one person and injured another last night in Marka town.
After evening prayers, people with pistols attacked two young men and shot at them several times, where one of the young men succumbed to the injuries.
December 15, 2015: At least five people were injured mostly civilians, injured after fierce fighting broke out in Marka town, the provincial headquarters of Lower Shabelle.
Residents said the clashes began as opposing clan based militias attacked rival clan militias who were in the town of Marka, causing a heavy fight to break out between the two in which both sides used heavy weaponry.
December 18, 2015: Two Soldiers killed and one civilian was wounded when Somali government troops in the southern coastal town of Marka were targeted in a grenade explosion, according to the eyewitnesses.
The blast occurred when unknown assailants threw a hand grenade at troops on security patrol in the conflict-hit town, injuring a pedestrian.
Afterwards, the security forces arrested 30 people in connection with the grenade explosion after carrying out an operation. No group has yet claimed credit for the bomb attack on the army.
4. Middle Shabelle
2 Deaths
This region witnessed relatively in the month of December, only two people were killed.
December 28, 2015: National Intelligence (NISA) agent kills two innocent civilians in Bal’ad town and the agent was later arrested by the government soldiers according officials.
5. Northwest
Death 1
Northwest region in Somaliland has enjoyed peace. Only one person was killed in the region in the December.
December 17, 2015: Special police unit commander of Berbara town was killed in the town.
6. Bari region
1 Death
This recorded one incident which unnamed soldier killed his commander.
December 7, 2015: A Somali soldier in the semiautonomous Puntland killed his commander in a shooting rampage in Bossaso town.
The unidentified soldier reportedly opened fire on Col. Hassan Shire, the commander of Bossaso airport’s security at the airport before he escaped.
7. Mudug region
2 deaths
Mudug region which led the death toll and number of injured people of all regions recorded in the month November. The region witnessed only deaths of two Iranian fishermen who were allegedly killed by Somali pirates in an attempt to seize their boat.
December 20, 2015: Two Iranian fishermen were killed in clash between Somali pirates and Iranian fishermen suspected to have been illegally fishing off the coast of Somalia.
8. GEDO
Seven injuries
Gedo region positioned fourth: This region is situated the most southerly point of the nation, it has border with Kenya and Ethiopia. The region has recorded only seven injuries which was caused by explosion which hit one of SNA vehicles. Here, soldiers-in-flight, clan clashes and fighting between Al-Shabab and government have become 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 for clan revenge.
December 28, 2015: SNA vehicle hits roadside bomb as they drove along a strategic road in Bardhere, an Eyewitness confirmed. Seven soldiers were injured.