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AMISOM To Investigate Mosque Incident

AMISOM
Sunday, January 08, 2012

AMISOM has said it will investigate the circumstances surrounding an incident in which a mosque in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, was hit by bombs from unknown source allegedly killing at least one Muslim cleric and wounding several other people.

It is reported that the Alhidaya mosque was hit on Saturday evening during an attack by the terror group al Shabaab.

AMISOM Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Fred Mugisha, extended his sympathies to all who had lost their loved ones during the incident. He also wished the injured a quick recovery.

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“This is testing time for Somalia and we shall continue to do all we can to improve the situation," he said. “We take allegations of inadvertently causing civilian harm extremely seriously and we shall let the investigations proceed to their logical conclusion.”

Gen. Mugisha noted that AMISOM troops are bound by their Rules of Engagement and Standing Operating Procedures which require that they distinguish between civilian objects and legitimate military targets.

“Alhidaya mosque is 2km away from the AMISOM positions that were under attack and would not have been a target,” he said.


“AMISOM troops in all their areas of deployment enjoy a cordial relationship with the civilian community and we strive to protect this relationship in all ways,” he added.

In the past, AMISOM has investigated incidents where its troops have been accused of causing harm to civilians and taken appropriate action.

Source: AMISON

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