Timeline of AMISOM Extrajudicial Killing of Civilians in Somalia
Reports from Marka, the administrative capital city of Lower Shabelle region of Somalia indicate that AMISOM forces from Burund in the town have shot dead a dozen civilians after they were targeted with land mine earlier in the day.
Though the number of casualties is contested, Goobjoog News has compiled a chronology of some of the events where AMISOM is accused of committing extrajudicial killing of civilians in Somalia for the past two years:
January 28, 2014: At about 9:00 am an AMISOM armored vehicles overruns a taxi driver in Mogadishu’s Makka Al-Mukarama area. The man died on the spot. He left behind a 9 children whom he was the sole breadwinner.
September 18, 2014: An armored AMISOM vehicle hits and kills a child in Florensa junction in Mogadishu. The vehicle sped off from the venue.
November 3, 2014: Speeding AMISOM war vehicles knock five civilians in Tabakayo Madow neighborhood in Madina district of Mogadishu. The victims included two women who were selling Khat “stimulanty” at the road side. They all sustained severe injuries but survived the encounter.
December 16, 2014: AMISOM soldiers opened fire on civilians in Marka, Lower Shabelle killing unknown number of civilians and wounding 3 people after the African Union trrops were targeted with explosives. The soldiers also shot dead a youngman whom they accused him of being behind the explosion.
January 28, 2015: According to eyewitnesses who spoke to Goobjoog News, AMISOM convoy hit and killed a civilian at the KM4 popular junction in Mogadishu and sped away without bothering to stop.
January 29, 2015: 3 AMISOM soldiers were arrested by the Somalia traffic authority after they damaged two privately owned cars at Mogadishu’s Soope junction. They were later released after some negotiation.
April 10, 2015: An AMISOM war vehicle over ran a 10-year- old child around Postal and Telecommunication Ministry building near KM0, Mogadishu. The child was admitted to a hospital for treatment.
July 11, 2015: AMISOM soldiers indiscriminately fired on civilians in Marka town, killing at least one barber shop owner and his customer.
On that day 13 people were killed by AMISOM toops.The bodies were heavily riddled with bullet holes.
Residents report that there were other people who were killed deep into the suburbs and they could not access.
According to hospital staff of Marka, some 20 people with gun shot wounds were admitted at the health facility and they say they have been overstretched to deal with the casualties due to limited resources.
July 21, 2015: AMISOM troops have reportedly shot dead a civilian in Suqa Holaha area of Mogadishu
July 21, 2015 : AMISOM soldiers reportedly shot dead 18 civilians and injured 5 others according to the Marka hospital director who spoke to Goobjoog News.
Abdullahi Omar Abshirow who’s a Federal Member of Parliament has called for investigation of AMISOM’s conduct.The MP voiced his displeasure saying he would take up this issue in parliament for action against the AMISOM troops.
Somalia’s Non State Actors, SOSCENSA and Somali clerical organization have also called for the Federal Government to hold AU accountable for the actions of the soldiers in Marka.
Goobjoog News