By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa Desk
MOGADISHU, Somalia– Today, close to 30 Somali civilians were killed and 60 injured, after a battle between militant insurgents and African Union peacekeepers ensued in a public market. The fighting began after the insurgents fired mortars toward the airport as the President was taking off for a conference in Uganda.
Somali President, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a moderate Islamist, who took office earlier this year, was en route to an African leaders meeting in Kampala to sign the first ever convention to protect displaced people. His flight was unaffected by the attacks, however the city was not.
Upon the insurgents’ assault on the airport, African Union peacekeepers and government troops began to fire back. Their response to the insurgents found them firing into main markets in the city where the insurgents were scattered. This resulted in close to 30 civilian deaths and almost 60 injuries.
The insurgent attacks have been claimed by al-Shabab, a group considered to be an al-Quaida proxy. According to some Somali journalists, AU and governmental troops frequently target the market and other al-Shabab sites in the capital. The insurgents have been using congested areas to launch their attacks. The AU and government soldiers have received much criticism for their inability to minimize civilian deaths.
Somalia has been in a state of chaos since 1991, the last time it had an effective national government. Islamist “militants” dominate much of the southern and central parts of Somalia while the President and his UN-backed government have control of only limited parts of the capital. Over three million people are currently in need of food aid, while hundreds of thousands have fled the country.
For more information please see:
All Africa – Amisom Spokesman Denies Shelling Targeted to Bakara Market in Mogadishu – 22 October 2009
BBC – Shelling Kills Somali Civilians – 22 October 2009
VOA – Somalia Peacekeepers Accused of Firing Into Civilian Areas – 22 Octoober 2009
