Sectarian War: Why Barracks, Military Bases and Police Security Installations are Increasingly Targets of Al Shabaab

26^th June 2015, Al Shabaab militants attack an African Union base in Leego village in a dawn raid which began when a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle-borne improvised device (VBIED) into the entrance of the base.

Moments later, dozens of militants armed with guns and rocket-propelled grenades unleash their assault leaving behind Burundian soldiers’ corpses.

Intelligence sources confirm Al Shabaab militants were later seen looting the base after the attack and loading supplies on their truck before they sped off.

The Friday’s events and other previous attacks on military bases are an indication that Somali based militant Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen is out to attack military camps, barracks and police establishments with intentions of killing and looting weapons.

Al Shabaab Financial Constraints

The group has run out of financial capability to sustain their terror activities as well funds to secure ammunitions. Al Shabaab strategy has now shifted to attacking military bases to stealing their armory.

Al Shabaab is also out to demand ransom in exchange for their hostages from their attack bases, as seen in the Friday Lego attack.

Intelligence gathered indicate that the group could have regrouped, giving priority to suicide bombers who are being used to initiate these attacks.

Although Somali National Army backed by AMISOM troops have recaptured the Lego base from Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, there is still a great threat on other military bases and police posts which the Mujahideen is out to attack.