Somalia: Three AU soldiers indicted with civilian killings

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 21, 2015 (Garowe Online)-African Union Mission to Somalia has acknowledged the death of civilians in incident in Marka town of southern Somalia on Friday, Garowe Online reports.

AMISOM head and AU envoy to Somalia, Ambassador Maman S. Sidikou disclosed at media briefing in Nairobi that preliminary investigations found civilian deaths after the fact finding body launched investigations into the tragic incident.

Seven civilians died in shots fired by soldiers serving with the African Union mission to Somalia on July 31.

S. Sidikou told the news conference that they recalled commander in charge of troop detachment for questioning as a prelude to further probes on August 4.

“This process has already established the fact, as I have stated earlier, that seven persons died,” top AU official had remarked.

Indicted soldiers are set to be arraigned in a military judicial court as part of charges relating to civilian casualties.

AMISOM previously noted allegations with serious concern, with mission heads engaging in tete-e-tete with parliamentary subcommittee on Defense.

A board of inquiry consisting of civilian, military and police officers will work closely with community leaders, regional administrations and the federal government in step towards impartiality.

Over 22,000-strong peacekeepers fight alongside Somali National Army to defeat Al Qaeda affiliated Al Shabaab militants in central and southern Somalia. 

GAROWE ONLINE