Saturday February 4, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) said that it launched an investigation after one of its soldiers reportedly shot and killed a Somali civilian in Mogadishu on Friday.
According to an ATMIS press release, the "shooting incident" involved
a soldier from the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) near the Ceelgaabta junction in south Mogadishu.
"The incident happened after an unidentified person hurled a suspicious object at one of the ATMIS trucks. The person later attempted to mount the truck prompting a response from ATMIS soldiers who were escorting the vehicle."
The findings from the investigation will be shared with Somalia's federal government, ATMIS said.
"ATMIS commits to protecting the lives of civilians and will continue to uphold and respect the rights of all Somali citizens as prescribed in its mandate and to support the FGS in ensuring a peaceful and stable Somalia," it added.
Dozens of demonstrators took to the streets to protest the killing, blocking the Ceelgab intersection with burnt tires and other debris.
The Federal Government of Somalia did not comment on the incident, despite residents' demand for the government to follow up on the incident.