U.S. Africa Command Civilian Casualty Assessment Report; 4th Quarter, FY2023

In the latest quarterly civilian casualty assessment report period ending Sept. 31, 2023, U.S. Africa Command received five (5) new reports of civilian casualties and there were no open reports carried over from previous quarters. 

This is the 15th 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.

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: Where reports of civilian casualties are determined to be unsubstantiated, it means there was insufficient information to validate or substantiate the reports. When new information is received, a report of civilian casualties can be reassessed. Until that occurs, the assessment is considered complete. 

1. On Jul. 10, 2023, U.S. Africa Command received one (1) report from an individual stating civilians were killed and injured as a result of a U.S. military operation in Libya in March 2019. After review, the report was assessed as unsubstantiated. No U.S. military strike occurred at the time and place reported.
2. On Jul. 24, 2023, U.S. Africa Command received one (1) report from an online media source stating five (5) civilians were killed and ten (10) injured as a result of a U.S. military operation in Bisaq Cadde, Buur Hakaba Bay, Somalia on Jul. 24, 2023. After review, the report was assessed as unsubstantiated. No U.S. military strike occurred at the time and place reported.
3. On Aug. 10, 2023, U.S. Africa Command received one (1) report from an online media source stating civilians were killed and injured as a result of a U.S. military operation in the vicinity of Gal Hareer, Somalia on Aug. 10, 2023. After review, the report was assessed as unsubstantiated. No U.S. military strike occurred at the time and place reported.
4. On Sept. 7, 2023, U.S. Africa Command received one (1) report from an online media source stating six (6) civilians were killed as a result of a U.S. military operation in the vicinity of El-Lahelay, Somalia on Sept. 6, 2023. After review, the report was assessed as unsubstantiated. No U.S. military strike occurred at the time and place reported.
5. On Sept.23 2023, U.S. Africa Command received one (1) report from an online media source stating eight (8) civilians were killed as a result of a U.S. military operation in the vicinity of Bakool Region, Somalia, on Sept 22, 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.