Mulindwa was arrested while trying to travel to Somalia to join up with Al Shabab. AP
Mulindwa was arrested while trying to travel to Somalia to join up with Al Shabab. AP
Mulindwa was arrested while trying to travel to Somalia to join up with Al Shabab. AP
Mulindwa was arrested while trying to travel to Somalia to join up with Al Shabab. AP

US admits to killing two civilians in 2019 Somalia air strike


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The US on Monday acknowledged that it had killed two civilians and injured three in an air strike in Somalia in early 2019.

It was a rare admission of civilian casualties from US Africa Command military operations in the country.

The air strike was carried out near Kunyo Barrow in Somalia's Lower Shabelle region and the report said the intended target, two members of Somali extremist group Al Shabab, were also killed.

"Regrettably two civilians were killed and three others injured in a February 2019 air strike," Africom's commander, Gen Stephen Townsend, said in a report on Monday.

"We have the highest respect for our Somali friends and we are deeply sorry this occurred."

The report was released in response to claims that Africom is too secretive about its actions and accusations from rights groups that it did not fully account for civilians deaths.

The report said the civilian deaths were a result of US or Al Shabab weapons exploding in the air strike.

Amnesty Intentional said that a banana farmer and a telecoms worker were the civilians killed.

It was the second time Africom has acknowledged killing civilians in Somalia.

The first was an air strike in April 2018 in El Buur in the Galgaduud region of central Somalia, in which Africom reported that it had unintentionally killed two civilians.

The US has been conducting air strikes in Somalia for years to help defeat Al Shabab.

The extremists are seeking to topple Somalia's western-backed central government and set up its own authoritarian rule.

For nearly two decades, Al Shabab has been bombing and shooting military and civilian targets, including hotels and traffic junctions in Somalia and neighbouring countries including Kenya.

A regional peacekeeping force, Amisom, mandated by the African Union, also helps to defend the Somalian government.

Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

The Light of the Moon

Director: Jessica M Thompson

Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David

Three stars

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less

Qosty Byogaani

Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny

Four stars

Uefa Champions League last 16 draw

Juventus v Tottenham Hotspur

Basel v Manchester City

Sevilla v  Manchester United

Porto v Liverpool

Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain

Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma

Chelsea v Barcelona

Bayern Munich v Besiktas

The Bio

Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village

What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft

Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans

Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface

Brief scores:

Liverpool 3

Mane 24', Shaqiri 73', 80'

Manchester United 1

Lingard 33'

Man of the Match: Fabinho (Liverpool)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier, in Bangkok

UAE fixtures Mon Nov 20, v China; Tue Nov 21, v Thailand; Thu Nov 23, v Nepal; Fri Nov 24, v Hong Kong; Sun Nov 26, v Malaysia; Mon Nov 27, Final

(The winners will progress to the Global Qualifier)

Gender pay parity on track in the UAE

The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.

"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."

Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.

"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.

As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general. 

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