The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has denied allegations that its airstrikes against Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia are intended to displace civilians or expose them to the risk of flooding linked to El Niño-related rains.
An AFRICOM spokesperson said the command does not target civilians and does not use weather conditions or flooding as a weapon of war to displace civilians.
The spokesperson added that US forces target legitimate military objectives and take feasible precautions to minimise the risk of civilian casualties.
The response followed a report by The Guardian newspaper on conditions facing residents of Jilib, a town in Somalia’s Middle Juba region.
Residents told the newspaper that repeated airstrikes had made it difficult for people to leave the town, forcing some to seek shelter near the Juba River.
According to the report, local residents said the airstrikes had caused deaths and damaged homes, amid growing fears that anticipated flooding could further threaten families living near the river.
Some sources cited by the newspaper expressed concern that military operations were pushing civilians towards areas vulnerable to flooding. AFRICOM has denied the allegations, which have not been independently verified.
Somalia experienced widespread flooding in 2023 linked to El Niño, displacing more than 1.2 million people, according to the report. Humanitarian agencies have also warned of the risk of further flooding that could affect communities along the Juba River.
The concerns come as Somalia faces the combined challenges of ongoing military operations against Al-Shabaab and the potential humanitarian consequences of severe weather.
Mustaqbal
