Marko residents take to the streets after AMISOM forces kill up to 16 civilians in the area.
Residents of Marko town in district in Lower Shabelle poured in to the streets in large numbers in protest of the killing of 16 of their own by Burundian forces who form part AMISOM. Confirming the killings to Wacaal media, former Marko District Commissioner Mohamed Osman Yariisow said that the soldiers opened fire on civilians while also handpicking others from their residences and business before shooting them dead in cold blood.
Yariiso added that the soldiers went on the rampage after their convoy that was snaking through the town was attacked with a hand grenade resulting in their shooting indiscriminately at people from rooftops after the incident. Most of the dead were said to be farmers on their way to their farms and local Islamic school (dugsi) teachers. Affected areas raided by the troops include Eel Bashiir, Bulo Elay, Juungaal and Ruusiya killing 8 people on the spot.
Many others were injured with 8 others later succumbing to their injuries.Yariiso says that he contacted AMISOM immediately after the incident but was told the soldiers were pursuing the assailants that threw a hand grenade at them and that all those killed were suspects, a claim he denies. It is the first time the forces are accused of such killings.
Locals accuse the Federal government of turning a blind ear on their cries saying no one has so far been taken to account for the extra judicial killings by those who purport to protect them.
It’s not the first time AMISOM forces abuses like to attack civilians, MMD calls government to respond quickly, any soldiers behind the killings as gross in its mission and we condemn these violations.
Asad Abukar Ali MMD Protection officer
Email asaddhayow@gmail.com
Mogadishu-Somalia
