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"In 2020, U.S. Africa Command has conducted 46 airstrikes to degrade the al-Shabaab terrorist network," according to Col. Chris Karns, director of public affairs, U.S. Africa Command. (Thread
) https://www.africom.mil/pressrelease/33101/al-shabaab-terrorist-network-the-nature-of-th
) https://www.africom.mil/pressrelease/33101/al-shabaab-terrorist-network-the-nature-of-th
This means that the Trump administration has conducted more air strikes in Somalia than during the administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, combined (46 vs. 42). https://time.com/5879354/civilian-deaths-airstrikes-somalia/?amp=true&__twitter_impression=true
The U.S. is poised for record # of air strikes in Somalia for the 6th straight year. “If you look at 2019 strikes, the frequency is similar to this point,” spokesman John Manley told @TIME. Last year, the Trump administration conducted 63 air attacks in Somalia, an all-time high.
AFRICOM has launched hundreds of air and ground attacks in Somalia since 2007, but the command has admitted to killing only five civilians in three separate attacks over the last 13 years. https://time.com/5879354/civilian-deaths-airstrikes-somalia/?amp=true&__twitter_impression=true
An investigation by @amnesty found that in just nine of those airstrikes, 21 civilians were killed and 11 others were injured. https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/africom-yet-to-compensate-somali-families-despite-casualty-admissions/
According to @airwars, evidence suggests that as many as 15 Somali civilians have been killed by U.S. strikes in 2020 alone. https://airwars.org/conflict/us-forces-in-somalia/
. @CLShumanrights & @CivCenter revealed that from 2016-2019, AFRICOM failed to conduct a single interview with civilian witnesses of airstrikes. Nothing has changed. “We have not interviewed any witnesses or victims,” spokesman John Manley told @TIME https://time.com/5879354/civilian-deaths-airstrikes-somalia/?amp=true&__twitter_impression=true
“By not interviewing those affected, they have chosen not to seek out valuable information about the effects of their operations in Somalia–despite the fact human rights groups have been calling on them to conduct these interviews for years,” said @priyanica of @CLShumanrights
A new Pentagon report on payments for death and injury in America’s wars shows no compensation has been provided to Somali victims. “It’s time for the U.S. to develop a better and more humane response to the harm it’s causing — and to do more to prevent that harm,” said @deviatar
“If the U.S. government can’t fulfill its obligations to civilians while fighting a remote war of airstrikes, then it needs to reconsider its methods,” said @Brian_Castner of @amnesty https://time.com/5879354/civilian-deaths-airstrikes-somalia/?amp=true&__twitter_impression=true
