Title: Pentagon Fails to Compensate Civilian Victims Despite Evidence of Fatal Drone Strike in Somalia
Introduction:
A recent Pentagon report reveals that the United States did not provide compensation to the family of a woman and her 4-year-old daughter who were killed in a drone strike in Somalia in 2018. The report, issued almost a year after its deadline, highlights the absence of ex gratia payments in 2022, despite the allocation of funds for making amends. This article delves into the details of the incident, the family’s pursuit of justice, and the Pentagon’s failure to address civilian casualties.
The Tragic Incident and Unanswered Calls for Accountability:
On April 1, 2018, a drone strike in Somalia resulted in the deaths of at least three civilians, including 22-year-old Luul Dahir Mohamed and her 4-year-old daughter Mariam Shilow Muse. Although a U.S. military investigation acknowledged their deaths, it concluded that their identities might never be known. The family has made numerous attempts to contact the U.S. government, including through official channels, but has received no response. Their pleas for an explanation or an apology have gone unanswered, leaving them without closure or accountability.
Pentagon Report Fails to Address Civilian Casualties:
The long-awaited Pentagon report, released in late April, stated that there were no civilian casualties resulting from U.S. military operations in 2022. However, it also revealed that no ex gratia payments were made to civilians harmed during these operations or to families affected by strikes in previous years. This lack of compensation is particularly disheartening considering that the Defense Department had access to millions of dollars authorized by Congress for this purpose. Annie Shiel, the U.S. advocacy director at the Center for Civilians in Conflict, expressed disappointment at the Department’s failure to make any payments in 2022.
Questionable Accuracy of Casualty Figures:
U.S. Africa Command claims that, over the course of 17 years, only five civilians have been killed in 288 declared attacks in Somalia. However, Airwars, a U.K.-based airstrike monitoring group, suggests that the actual number of civilian casualties may be significantly higher, possibly exceeding 3,000%. This discrepancy raises concerns about the transparency and accuracy of the military’s reporting on civilian harm.
Efforts to Address Civilian Casualties:
In 2022, the Pentagon introduced the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan, aimed at improving how it handles noncombatant deaths. It was followed by instructions in December, establishing policies for mitigating and responding to civilian harm. These directives included expressing condolences and providing ex gratia payments to next of kin. However, the Pentagon’s track record of rarely making compensation payments, even in clear-cut cases like the 2018 strike in Somalia, suggests an aversion to acknowledging mistakes.
Calls for Accountability and Compensation:
Elected officials and human rights organizations have been vocal in demanding compensation for victims of U.S. attacks. In late 2022, letters were sent to the Pentagon urging amends to be made. In December 2023, 14 Somali and 10 international human rights organizations specifically called on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to compensate Luul and Mariam’s family. This year, several lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Reps. Sara Jacobs, Ilhan Omar, Barbara Lee, and Jim McGovern, joined the effort. However, the Defense Department missed the deadline for releasing its 2023 civilian casualty report, raising concerns about transparency and progress.
Conclusion:
The Pentagon’s failure to compensate civilian victims despite evidence of a fatal drone strike in Somalia highlights the need for greater accountability and transparency in U.S. military operations. The absence of ex gratia payments in 2022 and the delayed release of the civilian casualty report raise questions about the Defense Department’s commitment to addressing civilian harm. Efforts by lawmakers and human rights organizations to demand compensation for victims and their families underscore the importance of holding the U.S. government accountable for its actions.
