Survivor recounts horror as ATMIS faces scrutiny for civilian death in Buulo Mareer

African Union peacekeeping forces, ATMIS, have been accused of killing at least two civilians in the Buulo Mareer area of the Lower Shabelle region, sparking major concern and prompting an investigation.

A survivor of the incident, Abdulqadir Abdinur Osman Dinle, recounted the ordeal to the BBC Somali Service, alleging that ATMIS troops attacked the farm where he was working as a guard. “Around 8:30 PM last night, ATMIS forces stationed in Buulo Mareer attacked us. I was at the farm acting as a guard at the time. There were five of us—two escaped, and three of us remained,” Dinle said.

He described being assaulted by the soldiers: “Two soldiers sat on me while four others restrained the others. They gagged and strangled me, twisting my neck as if they were slaughtering an animal. Then they threw me to the ground.” Dinle lost consciousness during the attack and later found his companions had been killed. “I could hear their cries,” he confirmed.

ATMIS has acknowledged the incident and the allegations, issuing a statement expressing deep concern. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has learned with deep concern of a tragic incident in Buulo Mareer on 17 July 2024, involving the loss of two civilian lives and injury to another. ATMIS is aware of media allegations linking the Mission to these unfortunate events. The Mission has initiated a thorough investigation into these allegations and hereby assures all stakeholders that the findings will be made public at the conclusion,” the statement read.

Neither the Somali government nor the South West State administration, which governs the area, has commented on the incident.

Historical context heightens the concern surrounding this event. In early 2016, civilians were killed in Buulo Mareer in an incident allegedly involving AMISOM soldiers. Some of those soldiers were later arrested and sentenced by a court. Additionally, in August 2021, AMISOM troops were accused of killing civilians in the nearby Golweyn area.