US air campaign in Somalia accused of exploiting El Niño floods to trap civilians
Residents of Jilib say US drone strikes are forcing them toward the swelling Juba River, effectively using the El Niño flood as a weapon against al Shabaab-held areas.
In southern Somalia, locals say US drone strikes have become so frequent that they force residents of Jilib and surrounding villages to seek refuge on the banks of the Juba River, which is swelling due to an El Niño-driven rainy season. Testimonies describe constant air attacks that have killed civilians and destroyed homes, while a monitoring source alleges the campaign is deliberately weaponising the flood to trap the population.
The United States Africa Command rejects the claim, stating its operations target lawful military objectives and aim to minimise civilian harm. Humanitarian groups, including the ICRC, warn that the lack of boats and flood-defence measures could leave thousands stranded and at risk of drowning. Analysts note that the tactic reverses the usual use of remote-sensing data, turning humanitarian mapping into a tool for combat, raising serious ethical and legal concerns about the US role in the shadow war against al Shabaab.
Why it matters
The alleged use of climate-driven flooding as a weapon raises serious humanitarian and legal questions about US military tactics in Somalia.
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