​Somalia: AMISOM mortar shelling kills five civilians

Image

JANALE, Somalia - A Somali official says five people died in an AMISOM indiscriminate mortar bombardment on civilians area near Janaale town in Lower Shabelle region on Tuesday night,  Garowe Online reports.

The African Union forces at Bufow base have fired several mortar rounds on Franko village, about 2 km east of Janaale town, in response to an Al Shabaab attack, according to Shalanbod area administrator Nur Osman Rageh.

"A mortar shell fired from AMISOM's Bufow military base struck a house in Franko area, and killed five people from the same family, a mom, and her four children," said Shalanbod area administrator.

Franko area lies just about 2 kilometers east of Janaale, which is under the control of Al Shabaab, a Somali-based militant group linked with Al Qaeda.

African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces are being accused of indiscriminate shelling on residential areas between Janaale and Marko towns in Lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia.

The African Union officials did not comment on the mortar bombing on Franko area and  civilian deaths which has triggered an outrage by local residents.   

GAROWEONLINE

Related Articles

Where Do Talks Between the Future Council and the Federal Government Stand?

The decision comes after earlier efforts to resolve electoral disputes through committee…

  • Somalia

    21-02-2026

  • 03:51PM

Somalia government-opposition talks stall over election agenda dispute

Despite the suspension, the multiple sources from both camps indicated that informal consultations may continue.

  • Somalia

    21-02-2026

  • 02:22PM