On Sunday, 17 July, 2016, there have been an indiscriminate shooting and killing of at least 14 (fourteen) traditional elders and peacemakers in Werdiile village which is about 32 Km north-west Baidoa.
Reliable source from witnesses in the village said that the traditional elders and peacemakers were having a peaceful consultation meeting on village development issues, Quran readings and prayers. This is a painful event and a deliberate violation of human rights perpetuated by some of AMISOM troops those entrusted to assist and to make peace and safe lives in Somalia. Everybody with human rights concern remained shocked when news reported that troops belongs of AMISOM were behind this massacre of the elders and peacemakers whom are the forefront of peace building in their environment.
Various and different reports on the ground clearly indicated that the some of the Ethiopian contingent of AMISOM operating in Bay Region are suspected and responsible of this inhuman and deliberate killing of innocent and defenseless community elders.
As we may know, AMISOM’s mandate mainly are Peace support towards Somalia National Defence and Public Safety Institutions but recently have been to light-day, involvement of Human rights violations particularly in the South West regions, Bakool, Bay and Lower Shabelle that needs to give close aye and investigate these allegations.
Killing of fourteen unarmed elders those had a peacefully meeting in a house within minutes, it is really a big crime. And it is not the first case because it is continuously happening within AMISOM operation due to irresponsibility and lack of accountability within the AMISOM and lack of intervention by International community especially the donors. Noteworthy is that none of the killed elders was under the age of 40, all they were between 42 to 85 years old, and that shows they were targeted and attacked intentionally.
Therefore, the Interim South West Administration, SFG, AMISOM, IGAD, UNSOM are kindly requested to take action against this cruel massacre of civilians in which recently reoccurred in the Regions of south west state. We want also to make sure by warring sides that the human rights of all community particularly civilians are universal and inherently respected.
Finally, we call for United Nations Human Rights Commission to investigate, records of all these human rights violations taking place in ISWA regions in particular and in Somalia in general perpetuated by different AMISOM troops and other individuals to prepare necessary legal measures and bring responsible perpetrators to justice. As civil society we welcome any international investigation and measures to ensure that the perpetrators are brought before justice and we are ready to give all possible cooperation and collaborations in the matter.
Thank you.
Abdulkadir Abukar Sheikh
Chairperson, Southwest Salvation Council (SSC)
Email: southwestsalvation@gmail.com
For more information please contact: cell phones: 00252-615559518/00252-617999512.
