Civilians continue to bear the brunt of Al-Shabaab attacks in Somalia - UN

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Civilians have borne the brunt of Al-Shabaab attacks in Somalia, the United Nations has confirmed, with the death toll hitting a record 613 in 2022, the highest figure in five years, in what could now trigger the country to change strategy in the unending war.

Statistics released by the UN show 2022 was the worst year for Somalis since 2017, with the deaths surpassing the 2021 record by nearly a third. Within this period, the UN notes, over 948 people have been fatally wounded in attacks engineered by the militants.

Records from the United Nations placed the number of those killed through Improvised Explosive Devices [IEDs] at 315 in 2022 with those injured being 686 in attacks mainly triggered by Al-Shabaab. Some casualties have been due to Government security forces, “clan militia and other unidentified actors”, according to the UN rights office, OHCHR.

The rights body High Commissioner Volker Türk, said that 2022 has “brought an abrupt halt to a general decline in deaths and injuries documented since 2017”, adding that he is “deeply concerned that more Somalis continue to lose their lives on a daily basis.”

“All parties to the conflict must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure that civilians are protected. This also includes armed elements engaged alongside the Government in the conflict against Al-Shabaab, as well as international forces.”

He urged the government to “take all necessary steps” together with those invested in stability across Somalia in the international community, to strengthen protection for all civilians, “in line with international human rights norms and standards and international humanitarian law”.

Besides IEDs, he noted, the Al-Shabaab militants have reverted to suicide bombings. The most recent was on October 29 when the militants targeted the Ministry of Education building in Mogadishu, killing over 123 people while injuring over 350 according to government records.

Similarly, the militants targeted Hayat Hotel in Kismayo in an attack that left 21 civilians dead. While the attacks have killed security officers and senior government officials, most of the affected teams are usually helpless civilians fighting for survival.

While instilling their authority, the militants have been poisoning and destroying wells and bridges besides bringing down telecommunication masts across the country. Telecommunication giant Hormuud also confirmed a fortnight ago that it lost a mast to Al-Shabaab.

“Such wanton destruction is reprehensible, particularly given the difficult humanitarian situation, with the consecutive failure of five rainy seasons and large-scale displacement in the country,” Mr. Türk said.

“Deliberately targeting civilians and destroying, as such, objects indispensable to the civilian population, constitute war crimes under international law. They must stop.”

The rights chief also stressed the crucial need for accountability for gross violations of international law, saying it was key to any serious effort to end the decades-long vicious cycle of violence across Somalia.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had persistently warned that the militants would likely target civilians, noting that they are keen to revenge having been toppled from strategic towns by the army. "There is no doubt that Al-Shabaab will target the civilians as Somalia is at war with the terrorist group," he said.

The Somali National Army has been raiding Al-Shabaab villages with the help of the US Africa Command, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], and the local militia.

The US has also pledged to assist the country and has since increased the reward scheme to $10 million for people volunteering information on the Al-Shabaab war.

GAROWE ONLINE