AU condemns shelling of civilians in Mogadishu's main market

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Friday condemned Wednesday's indiscriminate shelling of civilians in Somali capital Mogadishu's Bakara market which killed about 14 people and wounded several others.

In a statement issued in Nairobi, the AU peacekeepers said the deaths in Bakara were purely the responsibility of the extremists.

"AMISOM has designated Bakara market a 'no fire zone' and does not fire artillery or mortars into the market. We know that the extremists, who extort money from the businesses, have established a stronghold in the market and deliberately shield their reign of terror behind the civilians and business community who make their living there," AMISOM Force Spokesman, Major Paddy Ankunda said.

Ankunda said the AU peacekeeping mission will conduct operations in support of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), to free Mogadishu from the stranglehold and tyranny of the insurgents and these operations are aimed at stopping such attacks on civilians, not just in Bakara market, but also in the surrounding districts of Hodan, Hawlwadag, Wardigley, Bondere and Medina.

"We reassure all civilians and the business community that plans to flush extremists out of the market will be conducted with the greatest care to ensure minimal harm and damage," he said.

According to Ankunda, AMISOM understands the importance of markets to the city and to the people and has proved constantly that it is business friendly.

He said the AU peacekeeping mission was working hard to reopen access routes to assist the mayor in creating new markets around the city, adding that they have also protected the port and the airport to ensure that commercial supplies reach the city. "It cannot be us to destroy what we strive to protect everyday. There will undoubtedly be difficult days ahead and we urge people to take precautions and minimize unnecessary movement into areas of the city outside government control," he said. "However, very soon, the TFG forces, supported by AMISOM, will prevail and peace and normality will return to Bakara, as it has in other parts of the city."

Somalia has not had a functioning central government for the past two decades. The internationally recognized transitional government, backed by AMISOM, is facing nearly daily attacks from the militia group of Al Shabaab. The horn of Africa country is in severe humanitarian crisis.

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