MOGADISHU [SMN] – The trial of five AMISOM soldiers convicted of “killing 7 Somali civilians” in Golwayn, Lower Shabelle, was held in Mogadishu on Friday.
In the incident, which took place in August this year, seven civilians were killed, some of whom were reportedly planted on a landmine, then detonated.
Two of the accused Ugandan soldiers were sentenced to death, while the other three were each sentenced to 39 years in prison.
Relatives of the slain civilians were present at the sentencing, saying they were happy with the way the verdict was delivered.
Lower Shabelle farmers’ spokesman Hussein Osman Wasuge, who was present at the court, told BBC Somali that “the court has been closed today.”
“There are (members) from Uganda a military tribunal. It started on Friday. For two days, witnesses testified. We were invited and we listened, ”said Hussein.
“The trial took place last night, but for us, there was no Somali lawyer to represent us. The witness we are witnessing is the son of the landowner. Seven people testified, six of them Ugandan soldiers on the ground.
“The captain of the army was sentenced to death by firing squad. The next man in charge of the killer cell was sentenced to death by firing squad. The man who planted the landmine and detonated it was sentenced to 39 years in prison.
“The two men who opened fire have been sentenced to 39 years in prison,” he said
