AU mission to investigate suspected Kenyan military airstrikes in Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia – The African Union mission in Somalia [AMISOM] launched a series of investigations into the alleged bombing by the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] in parts of Gedo, where they reportedly targeted civilians last week.
A statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation linked the KDF to the bombing, claiming that the Kenyan contingent repeatedly targeted innocent people in pursuit of Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia.
The federal government said Kenyan troops were acting with “impunity” and demanded that AMISOM investigate the recent incident. The government also demanded that the report be made public, adding that the KDF was notoriously contrary to AMISOM’s mandate.
And in a statement, AMISOM pledged to conduct credible investigations into the incident, adding that it will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure the investigation is not discriminatory. The statement does not specify how long this case would be under investigation.
“The mission is currently engaged in gathering information on the incident and we will work closely with the federal government, the Foreign Office and other stakeholders as we investigate the matter,” the statement said. .
“AMISOM is obliged to carry out its mandate in a manner consistent with the statutes described. The mission therefore undertook to investigate all allegations of rights violations brought against the troops under command in Somalia,” a- he added.
Kenya has nearly 3,500 troops in Somalia who were first deployed as part of Operation Linda Nchi in 2011 before being absorbed by AMISOM teams. The troops occupy Sectors II and IV of AMISOM jurisdictions mainly in the state of Jubaland.
While the KDF have been linked to civilian atrocities, the troops are credible in driving al-Shabaab out of Kismayo, the regional administrative capital of Jubaland. But despite the gains, troops suffered major setbacks in El-Adde and Kulbuyow in 2016 and 2017 respectively, where Al-Shabaab killed at least 300 of them.
Since then, the KDF have launched serious and effective operations against the militants, except for the lingering complaints of civilian casualties. Last week, Sector II Commander Brig. Jeff Nyagah visited various forward operating bases around the country where he urged them to properly perform their roles.
The African Union Mission Gutter added that: “AMISOM will investigate this incident and share the findings with all stakeholders. The troops also work closely with the Jubaland security forces, which are trained primarily by AMISOM troops.
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