U.S. Africa Command Civilian Casualty Assessment Report

In the latest quarterly civilian harm assessment report period ending March 31, 2024, U.S. Africa Command received four (4) new reports of civilian harm, with no open reports carried over from previous quarters. 

This is the 17th quarterly assessment report since the command began releasing civilian casualty reports in April 2020. These reports are part of the command’s commitment to transparency and accountability. 

U.S. Africa Command takes all reports of possible civilian harm seriously and has a process to conduct thorough reviews and assessments using all available information. The command 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 3000.17 “Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response” on Dec. 21, 2023. This instruction requires that combatant commands publish reports at least quarterly on the command’s unclassified, publicly accessible website that provide information on the status and results of reviews, assessments, and investigations relating to civilian harm. U.S. Africa Command reviews and assesses all information related to civilian harm and publishes quarterly reports in accordance with this guidance. The command is updating the language in its quarterly reports to reflect the instruction’s definition of civilian harm (e.g., incorporating civilian casualty within civilian harm).

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

U.S. Africa Command civilian harm assessment reports occasionally differ from other organizations’ reports, including non-governmental organizations, for a number of reasons. The command’s reviews rely on a variety of sources, including open source information and information from reliable and multi-layered intelligence sources, as well as classified operational reporting, some of which is not accessible to the public. This can contribute to perceived discrepancies between the command’s assessments and those of others. 

Definition of “civilian” and “combatant”

When assessing reports of civilian harm, 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 2023), which is available at: https://ogc.osd.mil/Portals/99/Law%20of%20War%202023/DOD-LAW-OF-WAR-MANUAL-JUNE-2015-UPDATED-JULY%202023.pdf?ver=Qbxamfouw4znu1I7DVMcsw%3d%3d

U.S. Africa Command Quarterly Civilian Casualty Assessment Report Summary of Results

It is U.S. Africa Command’s policy to reevaluate reports of civilian harm should new information become available. Absent new information, the below assessments are final and complete.

Completed Assessments

1. On Jan. 25, 2024, the command received one (1) report from an online media source stating multiple civilians were killed as a result of a U.S. military operation in the vicinity of Galhareri, Somalia, on Jan. 24, 2024. USAFRICOM completed a review of all available information and determined that there were no U.S. military operations at the time and place reported. 

2. On Feb. 17, 2024, the 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 Jilib, Somalia, on Feb. 15, 2024. The command completed a review of available information and assessed that the U.S. airstrike conducted on Feb 15, 2024 did not result in civilian harm. 

3. On Feb. 22, 2024, the command received one (1) report from a social media source stating that a U.S. airstrike injured a mother and three children in Kurtunwaarey, Lower Shabelle, Somalia. The social media source also attributed “material damage” to a separate U.S. airstrike in Galgudeed, Somalia. The command completed a review of all available information and determined that there were no U.S. military operations at the times and places reported. 

Open Assessments

U.S. Africa Command had one open assessment during this quarter. Information on that assessment will be included in next quarter’s report.