U.S. Africa Command Civilian Casualty Assessment Report

In the latest quarterly civilian harm assessment report period ending June 30, 2024, U.S. Africa Command received two (2) new reports of civilian harm, and had one open report carried over from previous quarters. 

This is the 18th 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 combatant commands to 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.

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 March 10, 2024, the command received one (1) report from an online media platform stating multiple civilians were killed as a result of a U.S. military operation in the vicinity of Janaale, Lower Shabelle, Somalia, on the night of March 9-10, 2024. U.S.  Africa Command completed a review of all available information and did not identify any U.S. military operations at the time and place reported. 

2. On April 7, 2024, the command received one (1) report from an online media platform stating four (4) civilians were killed as a result of a U.S. military operation in the vicinity of Janaale, Lower Shabelle, Somalia, on the night of April 6-7, 2024. The command completed a review of all available information and did not identify any U.S. military operations at the time and place reported. 

Open Assessments

U.S. Africa Command had one open assessment during this quarter. Information on that assessment will be included in the quarterly report following completion of the assessment.