Somalia: KDF and Somalia Army Probe Killing of Seven Civilians

By Dominic Wabala

Nairobi — Kenya Defence Forces and their Somalia National Army counterparts fighting al Shabaab in Somalia’s Lower Jubba area have begun investigations into the circumstances leading to the killing of seven Somali men in Jana Cabdalla village on Sunday.

Seven civilians all men, were reportedly shot dead by Amisom troops marching towards al Shabaab’s stronghold of Kismayu under unclear circumstances.

The killing happened on the same day al Shabaab attacked a well in Jana Cabdalla and injured five civilians who were drawing water and one KDF soldier who was providing security to the civilians. “We have received reports that some civilians were killed in unclear circumstances in Jana Cabdalla. We have asked them to find out what happened and give us a report. Both KDF and SNA officials are investigating the case, then a comprehensive statement will be made,” Col Oguna said yesterday.

However, a Somali army spokesman Adan Hirsi told BBC that KDF had deliberately executed civilians. “It was a deliberate killing. This incident is very hurtful,” Adan Mohamed Hirsi is reported telling BBC. He said the group of young men were queuing outside a shop in the village to buy sugar the killings and asked the Somali government to take action. Two civilians were seriously wounded in the incident.

Military helicopters and vehicles were over the weekend dispatched to Jana Cabdalla to supply water to troops in three sections of the frontline after the al Qaeda linked insurgents desperate to stop the Amisom march to Kismayu poisoned wells.

Troops had complained that several of them had suffered dehydration due to lack of water and the fact that they have been feeding on dry rations popularly known as ‘dry rats’. Intense fighting closer to Kismayu has posed logistical challenges to the Amisom troops in the recent days. – The Star

Posted by admin on Oct 2 2012. Filed under African News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry