The American military has been conducting a continuous military campaign in Somalia since the 2000s, carrying out nearly 300 drone strikes and commando raids over the past 17 years.
In an April 2018 air attack, American troops killed three, and possibly five, civilians with a pair of missiles. A woman and child were among the dead, as per a U.S. military investigation, but their identities might never be known.
Last year, The Intercept’s investigation revealed the details of this tragic attack. The woman and child survived the initial strike but were killed by the second missile. They were 22-year-old Luul Dahir Mohamed and her 4-year-old daughter, Mariam Shilow Muse.
Despite efforts to seek answers and accountability from the U.S. government, including through a civilian casualty reporting portal, the family has never received a response or apology for the loss of their loved ones.
A new report by the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) emphasizes the need for justice for civilian victims and survivors of U.S. drone strikes in Somalia, including official acknowledgment, apologies, and financial compensation to help them heal from the trauma.
Despite over 17 years of drone strikes in Somalia, the U.S. has failed to apologize to any Somali survivors, let alone offer amends for the harm caused.
CIVIC interviewed 38 individuals who identified as civilian victims of U.S. airstrikes in Somalia, as well as eight civil society experts, revealing a strong desire for accountability and individual amends, such as financial compensation, from the U.S.
After The Intercept’s investigation, human rights organizations and lawmakers have called on the Defense Department to compensate the families of civilian victims, but the Department’s response has been lacking.
The CIVIC report outlines recommendations for the U.S. government to adopt a comprehensive approach to accountability and amends, prioritizing individual compensation to victims and survivors of attacks.
Despite Congress authorizing funds for ex gratia payments, the Pentagon has not made significant payments to civilians harmed in its operations, raising questions about its commitment to addressing the harm caused by its actions.
As Somali survivors continue to wait for justice and acknowledgment, CIVIC emphasizes the importance of the U.S. taking proactive steps to engage with affected communities and provide meaningful amends for the harm caused.
The delayed release of the Pentagon’s civilian casualty report and lack of payments to survivors highlight the need for greater political will to address the harm caused by U.S. military operations.
The lack of payments in Somalia and other conflict zones underscores the Department of Defense’s failure to adequately respond to the harm caused by its operations, leaving survivors without the justice and closure they seek.
