Kenyan airstrikes in Somalia have killed at least 17 civilians and wounded over 30 others in El Adde. The airstrike followed the January 15 raid on a Kenyan military base in the Gedo region by the al Qaeda-linked, al-Shabaab militant group. The militants claim that their raid killed over 100 Kenyan soldiers serving with AMISOM , but Kenyan officials have yet to release the exact number of casualties.

According to Kenyan officials, the airstrikes targeted al-Shabaab hideouts in the Gedo region. General Samson Mwathethe, head of Kenya Defence Forces, said “it is believed Mwalimu Janow, the leader of (an al Shabaab) brigade, who led this attack, was killed.” Kenya has had peacekeepers in Somalia since 2011 to fight al-Shabaab. But local officials in Gedo have reported civilians being attacked in these Kenyan airstrikes.

“Kenyan forces have been striking civilian areas recklessly in the region and dozens have died for no reasons. They should separate between al-Shabaab and civilians… they are not exempted from International law and we will not allow our civilians to be killed,” said Member of the Somali Parliament, Abdifatah Nur Matan from the Gedo region.   

The airstrikes have forced hundreds of families to leave this South-western area of Somalia and in search for safety. “There is an exodus out of El Adde. It started a few days ago after the Kenyan planes started bombarding the whole area indiscriminately,” said Abdullahi Ali, a resident of El Adde.

MP Matan strongly condemns the civilian casualties and calls for action on behalf of the Federal government and International Human Rights organizations.

To read more, visit:

http://www.reuters.com/article/kenya-somalia-attacks-idUSL8N1553FE
https://horseedmedia.net/2016/01/19/kenyan-airstrikes-kill-17-civilians-in-southern-somalia/
https://horseedmedia.net/2016/01/20/kenya-will-be-held-accountable-for-civilian-deaths-somalia-mp/
https://horseedmedia.net/2016/01/22/somalia-residents-flee-homes-to-escape-kenya-airstrikes/