Somalia: children injured in KDF airstrikes flown to Mogadishu
MOGADISHU, Somalia – Dozens of children injured in so-called Kenya Defense Force [KDF] Airstrikes in the Gedo area were airlifted to Mogadishu for further treatment, the government said, just hours after the African Union mission in Somalia [AMISOM] pledged to investigate the incidents.
The Somali government accused the KDF of carrying out indiscriminate airstrikes in the town of El-Adde, killing a number of people and injuring dozens, mostly children. The last airstrike was reportedly carried out on June 3, 2021, in the suburb of El-Adde.
Eight children were taken to Mogadishu for treatment on Sunday and we were received at the airport by senior government officials. The El-Adde incident, the government added, left a mother and child dead.
“The injured victims of the Kenya airstrike in the town of El Adde in the Gedo region on June 3 were taken to Mogadishu for further treatment earlier in the day,” state media said in a few tweet. moments after the victims arrived in Mogadishu.
While the KDF has yet to release a statement to deny or admit the incident, the Somali government has claimed the airstrikes were launched in pursuit of Al-Shabaab militants. There is a huge Al-Shabaab presence in Lower and Middle Jubba in Somalia.
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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