Somalia’s govt troops kill at least 7 civilians in Mogadishu, spark protest

Somalia

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – The number of civilians killed by Somalia’s security forces in Mogadishu in the last 24 hours has risen to 7 after police shot dead a Tuktuk driver in one of the busiest roads in the war-torn city on Tuesday.

Dozens of tuktuk drivers staged a protest along Banadir and Zobe roads in the Somali capital, complaining about increasing police killing of civilians and urged authorities to bring perpetrators of the attacks to justice.

It came just hours after a gunfight between factions within the security forces at a busy intersection led to the death of at least 6 civilians, including some whose bodies burned after heavy weapons exchanged by both sides hit vehicles they were traveling in.

Videos circulated online showed charred remains of civilian vehicles at the intersection where the fighting took place. The mayor of Mogadishu told media that troops involved in the skirmish had been arrested.

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