Somalia

Civilians in Somalia have been targeted by all parties in Somalia’s long-running conflict. The militant group Al-Shabab has conducted indiscriminate and targeted attacks on civilians, forcibly recruited children in large numbers, and extorted residents in areas under its control. Inter-clan and intra-security force violence killed, injured and displaced civilians, as did sporadic military operations against Al-Shabab by Somali government forces, African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops, and other foreign forces. More than 2.6 million people are internally displaced in Somalia. Relations between the federal government and Somali member states have deteriorated, leading to a stalemate over federal election modalities and fighting that on occasion caused civilian casualties, notably in the Gedo region. Somali authorities have restricted media freedoms, with federal and regional authorities harassing, intimidating, and attacking journalists.