U.S. Africa Command Civilian Casualty Assessment Report

In the latest quarterly civilian casualty assessment report period ending Dec. 31, 2023, U.S. Africa Command received two (2) new reports of civilian casualties which were found to be unsubstantiated. There were no open reports carried over from previous quarters. As of the end of this reporting period, there are no open reports.

This is the 16th quarterly civilian casualty assessment report since U.S. Africa Command began releasing reports in April 2020. The reports are part of the command’s commitment to transparency and accountability. 

U.S. Africa Command takes all reports of possible civilian casualties seriously and has a process to conduct thorough assessments using all available information. The command will continue to maintain and improve the civilian casualty assessment program and remains committed to reviewing and assessing any reports of civilian harm.

Publication of Department of Defense Instruction 3000.17 “Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response”

The Department of Defense published the Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 3000.17 “Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response” on December 21, 2023.  The reports of civilian casualties contained in this quarterly report were received prior to DoDI 3000.17’s publication. U.S. Africa Command reviewed and assessed the reports in accordance with previously established combatant command processes.  

For future quarterly reporting, U.S. Africa Command will process reports of civilian harm in accordance with guidance established under DoDI 3000.17.

Discrepancies between U.S. Africa Command civilian casualty assessments and NGO Reports

U.S. Africa Command’s assessment of reports of civilian casualties occasionally differ from other organizations, including Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) for a number of reasons. The command’s information is based on reliable and layered intelligence sources and classified operational reporting which are not available to the public. This can contribute to perceived discrepancies between the command’s results and those of others. 

Definition of “civilian” and “combatant”

When assessing reports of civilian casualties, DoD considers whether any members of the civilian population were wounded or killed as a direct result of U.S. military operations. For the purposes of such assessments, DoD does not include members of the civilian population who have forfeited the protections of civilian status by engaging in hostilities. Information about different classes of persons under the law of war, including "civilians" and "combatants," can be found in Chapter IV of the DoD Law of War Manual (June 2015, Updated December 2016), which is available at: https://ogc.osd.mil/images/law_war_manual_december_16.pdf  

U.S. Africa Command Quarterly Civilian Casualty Assessment Report 

Summary of Results

Completed Assessments

Note: The below reports of civilian casualties were assessed under previously established command processes prior to DoDI 3000.17’s publication. Under the previous command processes for responding to reports of civilian casualties, reports of civilian casualties are determined to be unsubstantiated when there was insufficient information to validate or substantiate the reports. When new information is received, a report of civilian casualties could be reassessed. Until that occurs, the assessment is considered complete.  

1. On Oct. 24, 2023, U.S. Africa Command received one (1) report from an online media source stating two (2) civilians were killed as a result of a U.S. military operation in the vicinity of Buaale, Somalia, on Oct. 24, 2023.  After review, the report was assessed as unsubstantiated. No U.S. military strike occurred at the time and place reported.
2. On Dec. 4, 2023, U.S. Africa Command received one (1) report from an online media source stating two (2) civilian was killed as a result of a U.S. military operation in the vicinity of Jilib District, Somalia, on Dec. 4, 2023. After review, the report was assessed as unsubstantiated. No U.S. military strike occurred at the time and place reported. 

Open Assessments

There are no open assessments during this quarter.