Omar Hassan Warsame, a prominent community figure in Golweyn, Somalia, was brutally killed along with seven other civilians by Ugandan peacekeepers from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in August 2021. The massacre sparked outrage across the country, leading to demands for the withdrawal of foreign peacekeepers. Despite the soldiers being sentenced, the families of the victims are still fighting for justice and compensation.
AMISOM, established in 2007 to counter the al-Qaeda affiliate al-Shabab, has faced allegations of human rights abuses and killings of civilians. The lack of accountability and transparency within the mission has raised concerns about the protection of civilians in conflict zones.
The victims’ families, seeking blood money payments in line with Somali traditions, have been met with dismissal and lack of response from both AMISOM and troop-contributing nations. As the AU plans to replace AMISOM with a new force, questions remain about accountability and justice for past atrocities.
With the departure of AMISOM imminent, the families of the victims continue to seek recognition and compensation for their losses, highlighting the challenges of holding international peacekeepers accountable for their actions in conflict zones.