Islamic State Somalia Claims Assassination Of 2 Officers Near Bakara Market, Mogadishu

The Islamic State in Somalia (ISS) has claimed an assassination attack near the Bakara Market in the country’s capital Mogadishu. The group claimed killing two officers and wounding another. In Mogadishu, the group is infamous for targeting security officers in assassination-style killing as opposed to other locations like in Puntland where they launch full-scale attacks.

Earlier in the month S.I. analysts warned of an imminent resurgence by ISS in Somalia after intelligence of the group training recruits in the mountains in Puntland. Further, intelligence indicated that the group had been given the mandate by ISIS-central to control ISCAP thus strengthening the group.

The group has seemingly appeared docile in recent months with intelligence indicate that the group was restructuring and strategizing. Since January, it has only claimed 5 operations in the country. The resurgence of the group in the capital is an indicator that the group is heeding the call to arms by the ISIS leadership for its affiliates to take advantage of the COVID-19 crisis to further the global terror organization’s agenda.