Al-Shabab mocks Somali govt over civilian killings by AU soldiers

Friday, August 21, 2015–The Al-Qaeda linked militant group in Somalia has scoffed at the Somali government for its silence towards civilians’ ‘massacre’ by Ethiopian-AU soldiers who killed civilians in Hiran region last week, calling it a ‘toothless pawn’.

Last week, Ethiopian soldiers have shot dead at least six civilians in Halgan, a district in Hiiraan region after troops stopped a car carrying villagers heading to a burial site for a deceased traditional elder.

Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, the Al-Shabab spokesman has accused the Somali government of overlooking the civilians and giving to haughty disregard to the lives of civilians.

“These so-called government men cannot even dare to ask the Ethiopians why they are massacring civilians,” Rage told pro-Al-shabab radio on Thursday.

“They amount to nothing for Somalia, even Ethiopians take their officials to jails at will and they cannot talk about it.” He said.

The spokesman has further claimed that Ethiopian troops have entered Somalia without seeking any authorization from Somalia. Ethiopian troops were officially integrated into the African Union forces in Somalia last year.

“Ethiopian troops are not parts of AMISOM.” He said echoing remarks by a senior Djiboutian-AU who said Ethiopian government does regularly send non-AMISOM soldiers into Somalia after Ethiopian soldiers have vacated a string of towns and villages recovered from militants last week.

Human rights group often accuse AMISOM troops in Somalia of killing civilians and committing atrocities including gang raping woman in the country.