UN urges restraint in Kismayu offensive
What you need to know:
- The Kenya Defence Forces confirmed the incident and said investigations have been launched.
- KDF spokesman Col Cyrus Oguna said the incident happened shortly after an Al-Shabaab ambush in which one Kenyan soldier was killed and five civilians wounded in Jana Abdalla Town, which was captured last week.
- He said the six civilians were in a group that approached a KDF defensive position, when the soldier opened fire.
The United Nations has called for “maximum restraint” of military forces in Somalia after a Kenyan soldier killed six civilians near the port of Kismayu.
Martin Nesirky, spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, said on Monday there is a vital need to ensure minimal civilian casualties.
The Kenya Defence Forces confirmed the incident and said investigations have been launched.
KDF spokesman Col Cyrus Oguna said it occurred after an Al-Shabaab ambush in which one Kenyan soldier was killed and five civilians wounded in Jana Abdalla Town, which was captured last week. (READ: AU troops tighten noose on Kismayu)
He said the six civilians were in a group that approached a KDF defensive position, when the soldier opened fire.
He said Amisom and Somali National Army were part of the investigations. “The soldier was immediately disarmed and has since been put on guarded seclusion,” Col Oguna said in a statement.
“KDF reiterates that its operations in Somalia have been conducted with utmost care and concern for civilian safety.
"This unfortunate incident should not be used as a measure for KDF operations,” he added.
On Monday, Al-Shabaab suffered a major setback after one of its allies Hizbul Islam announced that it was breaking away from the Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group following differences over foreign jihadists.
The United Nations had earlier this month urged Kenyan forces to avoid harming civilians even as Kismayu comes under siege.
