A drone strike has hit a village in Baidoa, the capital of South West Somalia, leaving unspecified number of residents dead or wounded, the city government announced in a statement over the weekend.
The city government said Turkish forces, currently operating in Horn African nation, allegedly carried out the attack.
The reported strikes came amid escalating fighting between forces aligned with Somalia’s federal government and fighters with former South West state president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen.
The statement accused President of Somali’s government Hassan Shiek Mohamad and Turkey of carrying out repeated indiscriminate attacks against civilians in Baidoa and surrounding areas.
Since last year, Turkey has become a major security partner of Somalia, providing military training equipment and other forms of security assistance to the federal government. Its military assistance has nevertheless come under increasing scrutiny as Somalia’s political divisions deepen.
“The hostility that Hasssan and Turkey have to the people of South West is demonstrated by the indiscriminate airstrikes, killing civilians living in Baidoa and surrounding areas. The airstrikes that took place last night is another example, the statement reads.
Details of the latest strike could not independently be verified.
The allegations came after a separate incident in Doolow in the Gedo region in which former Somali custodial Corps Commander General Mahad Abdirahman Aden, also known as Shub, survived the attack after the drone struck his residence.
The Doolow incident triggered protest in parts of Gedo where demonstrators accused Turkish forces of interfering in Somalia’s internal affairs.
Some protesters burned Turkish flag reflecting growing anger over Ankara’s alleged role in the conflict.
MG/as/APA