Wednesday June 16, 2021
Somalia has called on the International Criminal Court to investigate recent Kenyan airstrikes in Gedo region which killed one woman and injured five children.
Addressing the UN Security Council Tuesday, Somali ambassador to the UN Abukar Osman said the recent airstrikes in Gedo region constituted war crimes that must be investigated by the ICC and the office of the UN Secretary General.
“The nature of the wide spread and systematic attacks of more than twenty air raids on civilian populations and infrastructure by Kenyan forces rises to the distinction of war crimes under international law,” Abukar said.
“These violations by Kenya warrant an immediate investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC), equally important the office of the special representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict should urgently investigate these violations against or children.”
The Somali diplomat also submitted before the Security Council pictures of five children who were injured during the June 3 airstrikes.According to the Somali government, the airstrikes in El Adde and Hisa-ugur locations in Gedo region killed one woman and also destroyed property.
Kenya has not commented on the development yet. The accusations by Somalia at the UN come barely a day after the two countries exchanged notes of request to the reopening of their respective embassies.
Meanwhile, some Somalis in London protested Tuesday outside the Kenyan embassy following the June 3 airstrikes.