The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has apologized for the actions its soldiers for killing civilians on Saturday.
AU troops opened fire on private vehicle and killed four occupants including elderly woman and a child on Saturday.
In a statement released to the press AU mission in Somalia regreted the incident saying the case was isolated.
“AMISOM learned, with great concern, that an incident in which civilian lives were lost has taken place in Bula Marer, Lower Shabelle Region, where AMISOM troops are involved in the fight against Al-Shabaab militantsâ€
It said the mission will respect the international law and AMISOM troops are obligated to exercise maximum restraint, strictly respect human rights and avoid civilian casualties even in situations of imminent attack.
“In the fulfilment of their obligations in the battle front, AMISOM personnel are bound by the International Humanitarian Law as well as by the African Union Peace Support Operations Code of Conduct. In line with the AMISOM Rules of Engagement (RoE) which are in consonance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL), AMISOM troops are obligated to exercise maximum restraint, strictly respect human rights and avoid civilian casualties even in situations of imminent attack.â€
AMISOM also said  matter has been referred to the appropriate instances of the AU Commission for further attention.
“In accordance with AMISOM’s standard operating procedures in such situations, a board of inquiry will immediately be set up and, working very closely with the Federal Government of Somalia and South West Regional Administration, it will seek to clarify, in the minute detail, the exact circumstances in which the incident occurred and propose the action to be takenâ€
