US should prioritize Somali civilian protection: HRW

WASHINGTON, 21 May 2022, (TON): Human Rights Watch said “US military forces redeploying to Somalia must make civilian protection a priority.”

US President Joe Biden signed an order reversing a Trump administration decision to remove nearly all 700 American troops from the East African state and redeploy them as part of a joint operation with the Somali government to tackle Al-Shabab, an affiliate of Al-Qaeda.

Laetitia Bader, Horn of Africa director at HRW said “US officials should be very clear on how forces will avoid harming Somali civilians during military operations.”

They will need to work closely with the Somali and African Union authorities to avoid repeating past laws of war violations and promptly and appropriately respond to civilian loss.

HRW said “past American operations in Somalia had not only resulted in loss of life and Somali property, but that the US had neither recognized these losses nor provided redress.”

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