The Al-Qaeda armed Islamist extremist group Al-Shabaab has notched up a series of bloody successes against both Somali targets and the African Union peace-enforcement mission AMISOM from across regions of Somalia.
The militant group has conducted a number of attacks in the past five days. Over the weekend, the militants conducted attacks in different regions signaling an uptick in its claimed activity, a few days after the end of the Holy month of Ramadhan. The group continues to demonstrate its ability to adapt to counterterrorism operations by AMISOM and AFRICOM that supports the Somali Army troops.
The Islamist militant group continue to target, SNA and its allied troops. Its notable civilians also continue to suffer brunt of Al-Shabaab’s insurgency. In the capital Mogadishu, more than ten civilians were killed 10 others were wounded in a roadside bomb explosion outside Mogadishu on Sunday. The blast from an improvised explosive device hit a bus transporting civilian from Mogadishu to the town of Wanlaweyn.
Recent Claimed Attacks (29th May – 2nd June 2020)
- Friday, 29th May 2020. Al-Shabaab claimed to have executed a 50-year old sorcerer identified as Abu Bakr Haji Omar in Qoryoley,Lower Shabelle State, southern Somalia.
- Friday 29th May 2020. Al-Shabaab claimed to have killed 3 government soldiers and seizing their small arms at a military checkpoint in the suburb of Janale city in Lower Shabelle state, southern Somalia.
- Saturday, 30th May 2020. At least 4 IED explosions target Ethiopian troops convoy travelling between Bardaale and Qansahdhere towns in Somalia’s Bay region. This large Ethiopian convoy was carrying about 1000 of Ethiopian troops crossing from Ethiopia – Somalia border into Gedo Region.
- Sunday, 31st May 2020. Ten killed, 13 injured in landmine blast in in Afgoosye. 14-seater public vehicle traveling between Hawa-Abdi and Lafoole road near Afgooye town hit a landmine killing ten people, some 30 kilometers southwest of the capital Mogadishu.
- Sunday, 31st May 2020. Al-Shabaab claimed to have carried an assassination operation on a Somali government official in capital Mogadishu alongside two other officials.
- Monday 1st June 2020. Al-Shabaab claimed assassination of a member of election committee of the Somali parliament alongside his driver. Al-Shabaab claim to have sized his pistol in an operation conducted in Yakshid district of the capital, Mogadishu.
- Monday 1st June 2020. Al-Shabaab amputated right hand of a civilian man identified as Osman Manurey for allegedly stealing 250USD from a shop in an area near Qoryoley town in Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia, according to local sources.
- Tuesday 2nd June 2020. Al-Shabaab claim attack targeting AMISOM operating base in Lower Juba. The militant claimed a power explosion targeting AMISOM troops in Hosingo area. Two soldiers injured in the blast.
Al-Shabaab despite joint counter operations from CT assets in Somalia has remained resilient. The group has proved its ability of conducting surprise attacks (guerilla attacks) targeting on troops convoys. Ethiopian troops have suffered such in recent fours attacks.
Al-Shabaab also continue to employ a small unit to conduct attacks as opposed to deploying large groups to avoid detection, interception and airstrikes.
Towards the end of Ramadhan, Al-Shabaab at least targeted three FOBs in Lower Juba – Hoosingo, Kolbio and JSF recruits camp. The Al-Qaeda aligned Al-Shabaab has claimed a repeat attack on AMISOM troops in Hosingo area. Army assets in Hosingo AMISOM-FOB should conduct mop up operations, conduct surveillance besides, deploy enough scouts as its imminent the militants are determined to mount an attack on their target.
The Al-Shabaab offensive takes a multi-pronged approach that couples a higher level of violence within Mogadishu with periodic high-value attacks to make headlines. The ground operations target strategic positions in the capital. In the recent offensives in the capital, though two notable assassinations were conducted on Somali officials, a roadside bomb caused the largest civilians casualties in these key events.
Though Al-Shabaab ability to conduct spectacular attacks involving SVIEDs and IEDs have significantly declined, the militant’s threats in the region remain high. Assets in Somalia and from broader East Africa region to continue monitoring the militant group’s activities, their frequency and potency and counter their operations.
