MOGADISHU (SD) – The African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) has promised that it will probe the alleged Kenyan airstrikes against civilians in southern Somalia barely a day after the horn of African nation accused the Kenyan military of targeting locals in Gedo region.

In a statement, the mission said the Mission said it will check if the KDF, who are a part of Amisom, violated the operational code in the raids.

“The Mission shall fully investigate the alleged incident and the findings shall be shared with all relevant stakeholders,” Amisom said in its statement on Saturday.

The statement by AU comes after Somali government accused the KDF of targeting civilians in El Adde and Hisa-u-gur in the Gedo region caused death and injuries.

“These KDF operations cloaked under a claim of carrying out operations against extremism are undoubtedly conducted in a manner that is bereft of its obligations under the UNSC’s AMISOM mandate,” part of the statement by Somali government reads.

Somalia has said the way KDF operates in Somalia is becoming provocative and blind as many civilians are targeted in the attacks by the neighbouring country.

“It is becoming increasingly obvious the provocative and indiscriminate manner the KDF conducts operations in Somali under the pretext of fighting extremism will not contribute to the efforts toward stabilising and confronting extremism but only further radicalise communities in support of extremism,” the statement said. Adding, civilians under their property should never be the target of military action.”

According to Somalia, the deterioration of its ties with Kenya was due to the failure of the Kenyan government to meet the standards expected of the KDF.

“It’s regrettable the KDF continues to be under the impression the Status of Mission Agreement (AMA) protects their actions from accountability for the illegal killing of the innocent and the destruction of private property,” the statement said.

Locals in the region confirmed that several airstrikes conducted by suspected Kenya warplanes allegedly killed a mother and left behind injuries of five others.