Since 2001, the United States has been involved in the “War on Terror,” which includes military operations in Somalia. American airstrikes in Somalia have resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians, including Luul Dahir Mohamed and her 4-year-old daughter, Mariam Shilow Muse, who were killed in a US drone strike in 2018. The US military admitted to killing a civilian woman and child in the strike but has not apologized or provided compensation to the family. Luul’s relatives have been waiting for the Pentagon to acknowledge their loss and provide an apology and compensation.
The Pentagon recently unveiled its “Instruction on Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response,” which aims to address civilian harm caused by military operations. The instruction includes steps such as acknowledging harm suffered by civilians, expressing condolences, and helping to address the direct impacts experienced. However, since a coalition of 24 human rights organizations called on Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to make amends to Luul and Mariam’s family, there has been no apparent effort from Austin to contact the family.
The United States has a history of killing civilians in airstrikes, failing to investigate the deaths, and ignoring pleas for apology and compensation. Luul and Mariam’s family, like other victims of US attacks, must wait for acknowledgment and justice. Despite promises to end the “forever wars,” the United States continues to be involved in conflicts in Somalia and other parts of the world. The lack of apology for Luul and Mariam’s deaths highlights the disconnect between the US government’s claims to promote democracy and human rights and its actions on the ground.
