AU troops accused of killing civilians in Somalia after Al-Shabaab attack

UPDF soldiers serving under the AU mission [AMISOM] in Somalia. [PHOTO | FILE]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Ugandan People's Defense Forces [UPDF] serving in AU Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] have been linked to the deaths of a number of civilians in Lower Shabelle, something which could ignite sour relationships between local authorities and the peacekeepers.

According to reports, at least seven civilians were killed in Lower Shabelle following fierce clashes between the Ugandan troops and the Al-Shabaab militants, who still control large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia.

The UPDF troops have been intensifying attacks against Al-Shabaab in Lower Shabelle where they have been in control for the last couple of years. There are close to 4,500 UPDF troops serving in Somalia.

An official said UPDF troops who were traveling from Danow and Golweyn at dawn crossed into Al-Shabaab territory, triggering a fierce gunfight.

The exchange of fire lasted for several hours, the official added, noting that civilians suffered heavy casualties.

Immediately after fighting subsided, it has now emerged, the UPDF troops picked five civilians from a nearby farm and two drivers who were using the same route. They were later on killed by the Ugandan troops, it has now emerged.

Shalambood District Commissioner Nur Osman Rage who spoke to BBC Somali Service accused AMISOM of intentionally killing the civilians.

"The people have been rounded up and blindfolded, forcefully sat on a landmine and detonated," Nur said.

An official working for AMISOM, who asked not to be named, told the BBC Somali service that they had not heard of the incident but would seek further information. The official said AMISOM will provide details once thorough scrutiny has been done.

But the Shalambood governor said: "With shots being fired if people die, everyone dies somewhere. These people are people who have been rounded up and blindfolded and then killed because," he said.

Somalia is struggling with instability for over three decades now since the ouster of Siad Barre, a renowned military general. It's anticipated that the AMISOM team will leave Somalia upon full implementation of the Somali Transition Plan [STP] by the end of this year.

Cases of peacekeepers killing civilians in Somalia are very common but only a few have been admitted by the teams. In fact, the US Africa Command launched quarterly reports on civilian casualties following complaints by members of the public.

GAROWE ONLINE