16 January 2017•Update: 16 January 2017
By Mohammed Dhaysane
MOGADISHU, Somalia
At least nine people were killed and 15 others wounded after a truck belonging to the African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM) rammed into a civilian minibus on the outskirts of the Somali capital Mogadishu on Sunday night, officials said.
Omar Mahmoud Ilmi, deputy governor of the Lower Shabelle region, confirmed to Anadolu Agency that the AMISOM convoy had hit the civilan bus in the Calamada village some 19 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu.
"An AMISOM convoy from Mogadishu, heading to the town of Afgoye rammed into a minibus carrying civilians resulting in the deaths of at least nine people, including children and women, and injuries to 15 others who were rushed to Medina Hospital on Sunday night," he said.
The AMISOM mission confirmed the incident via Twitter, saying an investigation had been launched.
"An AMISOM convoy was involved in a road accident with a civilian vehicle along the Mogadishu-Afgoye road. AMISOM is investigating this unfortunate incident that may have resulted in casualties," read the tweet.
Last month, six people were killed on the outskirts of the town of Qoryooley, in the Lower Shabelle region, after AMISOM troops shot at a minibus carrying civilians.
"A minibus approaching the roadblock was ordered to stop but the driver defied the order and reversed the vehicle in haste, forcing our troops to shoot, killing six people in the minibus," said an AMISOM statement issued on Dec. 19.
