Amnesty International: Al-Shabaab must stop attacking civilians in Somalia

NAIROBI, Kenya - Amnesty International has taken a swipe at the Al-Shabaab group, noting that the group has been targeting innocent civilians in Somalia and across the borders, leaving hundreds of them dead and others injured, in the name of pushing Jihad ideologies.

Amnesty International's warning comes hours after the Al-Shabaab militants attacked downtown Mogadishu, in an attack that left over 100 civilians dead and hundreds injured, leading to devastating calls for blood donation from local hospitals which are struggling to treat the wounded.

The team insists Al-Shabaab's actions are crimes under international law, noting that it is absolutely crucial that all those suspected of criminal responsibility for this crime face justice in fair trials

Most of the affected people in Saturday's Al-Shabaab raid were innocent children and women, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud warning that the death toll could rise given the number of those injured. By Monday evening, the number stood at 119 according to officials in Somalia.

“Amnesty International sends its condolences to all those who have lost loved ones following Saturday’s appalling and senseless attacks. Al-Shabaab’s callous actions are crimes under international law and it is absolutely crucial that all those suspected of criminal responsibility for this crime face justice in fair trials,” said Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa.

“Al-Shabaab specifically designed the attack to inflict massive civilian casualties. Intentionally targeting civilians in an armed conflict is a war crime and, as such, all states are permitted to exercise jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute. Al-Shabaab must immediately stop carrying out attacks on civilians, and the Somali authorities must ensure that victims’ families are offered justice, truth, and reparation.”

Following the bombings, devastated friends and relatives of victims shared accounts of what happened on social media. Many are still searching for missing family members. Mogadishu’s hospitals are currently overwhelmed as they seek to support those injured in the attacks, the team noted.

The attack comes at the time the government of Somalia is encouraging locals to take arms against the group which controls huge swathes of rural central and southern Somalia. Already, most clan militias have joined the war, and according to the government, Al-Shabaab has significantly lost many towns in the country.

Last week, the government of Somalia announced that hundreds of the militants have been killed in operations instigated at Hiiraan, Galgaduud, and Bay regions. The government has also warned local businesses against parting the money with the militants who have been running extortion campaigns.

GAROWE ONLINE