Under Trump, US military Ops in Somalia caused mass civilian deaths

LONDON, UK -The number of deaths and injuries among the civilians resulting from military airstrikes in Somalia have significantly reduced since the emergence of COVID-19 in 2020, a report done by Airwars group has revealed, in what could be welcomed by members or human rights groups.

With spirited efforts to degrade the terror group, US Africa Command, the African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] and the Somali National Army have intensified the onslaught against Al-Shabaab across Lower Shabelle and Jubba regions, significantly weakening the group.

For instance, the team managed to liberate Janaale, a town situated in Lower Shabelle in March 2020, and since then, a number of high-ranking Al-Shabaab militants have been killed in drone strikes launched by the US Africa Command.

The report by the Airwars group indicates that since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the airstrikes targeting civilians especially in Somalia have drastically reduced by 75 percent, an indication that civilian fatalities significantly reduced.

In Somalia, the report highlights the contrast between the US military operations under Donald Trump and his two predecessors. Under Trump, there were 276 strikes or ground operations, 205 of which were officially confirmed while between George Bush and Barack Obama, there were 67 confirmed and alleged actions.

According to the report by Airwars, in four years of Trump, US actions had resulted in a minimum alleged 134 to 174 civilian deaths, compared to 59 to 157 claimed fatalities in ten years of Bush and Obama. AFRICOM acknowledged one civilian death 5 injuries in separate strikes in 2020.

The airstrikes are waged against Al-Shabaab militants especially in Middle Jubba and Lower Shebelle, where the militants have controlled for a long time. They are also meant to help combat troops pursue the militants on the ground with minimal resistance.

Despite the US Africa Command exit from Somalia, the military still wages airstrikes against the militants from undefined locations, with at least 10 airstrikes conducted this year.

AFRICOM - the US Africa Command has started tabling quarterly reports on civilian assessment in May 2020, following complaints by civil societies in Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE