Somalia: US Airstrikes Put Civilians at Higher Risk
Several human rights groups and experts have warned against US president, Donald Trump’s approval of a bigger military presence in Somalia, saying that the increase in US military presence will put thousands of civilian lives at risk.
On Friday, it was reported that Trump had approved a request made by the Pentagon to increase military presence in the African country. This included a request for more frequent airstrikes in the country.
The US military has been assisting the Somali Army for quite some time in a bid to defeat al-Qaeda linked terrorist group, al-Shabaab, that has been terrorising the Southern parts of the country for years.
Trumps authorisation will now allow the US military to conduct airstrikes more frequently, while also increasing their assistance to the Somali military.
However, human rights groups have warned that the increase in airstrikes and US military presence will put civilians at greater risk.
The risk of civilian fatalities is also greater now that thousands of Somalis have been displaced, following a devastating drought that has crippled the country and caused an outbreak of disease and famine.
According to Laetitia Bader, a researcher for the Human Rights Watch focusing on Somalia, the increase in US military presence will not only put civilians at risk physically, but will also run the risk of spreading false information throughout the country.
“At a time when thousands of civilians are currently on the move … the US should be cautious in relying on information about whether civilians are present before deciding to strike,” she said.
While the US has never publicly acknowledged the fact that there are US military bases set up in Somalia, it is common knowledge that they are there and that they are used for drone airstrikes.
According to an intelligence official from the Somali military, the US has launched 14 airstrikes in the country to date, and that the Somali government co-ordinated with the US on some of the strikes.
Some of these airstrikes have been successful, killing top al-Shabaab commanders in the process.
The Somali government has not commented on Trump’s authorisation as of yet.
