by Abdihakim Aynte
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Over the years, AMISOM has built a considerable reputation in Mogadishu by setting up lifeline makeshifts hospitals that has become an epicenter of the medical treatments of the patients who are unable to pay their fees. Those programs have helped so many lives, and probably many more awaiting for that much needed help.
Unfortunately, that very good reputation built once upon a time is facing bad publicity the little good that is left is fading away. This is as a result of uncoordinated responses of AMISOM troops, aka, The African Union Mission in Somalia.
The battalions from Burundi and Uganda have had a friendly relationship with Somalia ever since the Somali independence. Today, the same people they are protecting are the same people who are facing the wrath from AMISOM. The targets on Somali civilians are latest attack and this has raised eyebrows. Leave alone, the property of an known value that destroyed is unprecedented.
Since their deployment in 2007, the above reports of civilian causalities are constantly questioning AMISOM’s mission in Mogadishu. Ideally, AMISOM's primary task is to safeguard the incapable government of Somalia from the brink. What’s happening lately is a complete turn around of that.
Just recently, the said AMISOM were accused of letting six of its troops for disproportionately shelling into a civilian zone. They were subsequently arrested and charged. That episode of attacks has ignited new wave of resentments and deep mistrust among Somali people. What lies in the minds of many is, supposedly, whether there is a need for existence for AMISOM or not.
Continuing these attacks will certainly undermine the operation -- if not entirely -- and probably radicalize a new generation of youth to ruminate plots. The recent twin attacks in Kampala, Uganda on the eve of 2010 World Cup finals, for example, was largely a retribution of Ugandan disproportionate attacks in Somalia. If the magnitude of this attack were anything to go by, we can only expect a more in form of retaliation of this massive scale around and within the horn of Africa.
The onus upon AMISOM, together with AOU can only take one stand: the whole idea of killing civilians is against the norms of international civilian law and, therefore, should be widely condoned.
Given the fact that Al-shabab, the Africa's most fearsome organization, and other insurgents will never stop firing motor shells from a densely populated area like Bakaro Market as a means to fight back to AMISOM and the government, the reversal and need for a new tactic angle from the latter will be key in sorting the situation that could otherwise soon get out of hand.
Alternatives to these casualties should be seen from all corners and not from the AMISOM point of view. Given the fact that the Al-Shabab are the main opposition in Somali, AMISOM on its part should be objective in their operation and peace keeping mission to Somalia in general. The Somali people have the right to security and more so a right to live in a peaceful society.
The bottom-line is: winning the hearts and minds of the Somali folks means paying a price much larger than the mandate AMISOM has for the government of Somalia.
Abdihakim Aynte is Director of Somali Forum for Progress, a think-tank initiative based in Finland and Kenya. He can be reach at: [email protected]