Local officials in Buulo Mareer, Lower Shabelle region, report that two civilians were killed by African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troops. Maadey Jeilani Ali, deputy chairman for social affairs of Kuntuwaarey district, confirmed that Ugandan ATMIS forces entered a farm in Buulo Mareer, encountered three individuals, and fatally shot two of them. The third individual, injured, managed to escape.
According to Maadeey Jeylaani Cali, “After shooting the two individuals, the ATMIS troops then killed them. They were patrolling and became suspicious of these men, shot them, and then killed them. There were three individuals; they killed two, and the third, who was injured, managed to escape. Two months ago, they similarly killed a farmer returning from his fields.”
The incident has deeply affected Buulo Mareer residents, who have faced previous deadly encounters involving ATMIS forces. Scores of residents, primarily young men, have protested, demanding justice and accountability. Authorities are expected to bolster security around key areas like government buildings and major routes.
Neither ATMIS command nor the Federal Government of Somalia has issued a statement on the matter. Local residents and leaders in Buulo Mareer and Lower Shabelle urge the Federal and South West State governments to hold ATMIS accountable for their actions in the region, accusing them of recurring and deliberate killings of civilian farmers.
