The most prominent terrorist groups that are creating a terror impact in Africa include Boko Haram of Nigeria and Al-Shabaab of Somalia. The presence of these terrorist groups, together with their allies across Africa, has led to massive destruction of property damage and huge numbers of people dying and sustaining injuries. Additionally, terrorist activities on the continent have contributed to mass displacements of the civilian population. This growing trend of terrorist attacks, which has resulted in the increased movement of people across borders, remains a major security challenge in African continent.
Kenya, Somalia Security Brief:
Key Notes: Events Recorded Between April 10th and April 17th 2020
- Important entry includes; location/regions, the targeted groups and number of casualties (Fatalities) Those killed and ones injured.
- Data based on terror events recorded subsequently used to create graphical representation for analysis.
- The purpose of the graph is to establish terrorists’ attack trends and patterns.
- To help map regions mostly attacked and identify most preferred attack type by the Somali-based militant group, Al-Shabaab.
Brief Analysis on Al-Shabaab’s Terror Events, Fatalities, Attack Patterns and Preferred Attack Types
The Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab continues to record attacks in the Horn of Africa nation. Though sporadically and notably low-scale attacks, security assets need to come up with a strategy to halt them before they escalate at a time Somalia like any other country is struggling with the current Coronavirus pandemic.
Observation and Analysis
Militant Islamist group activity in the Horn Africa continues to remain primarily concentrated in four theaters: Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle and Lower Juba. In the neighboring Kenya, groups activities gave significantly dropped. However, the Kenya frontiers remain high risk areas and targets for the Somali-based Islamist militants.
Despite the persistent level of activity, fatalities linked to militant Islamist groups in Africa have continued to decline steadily as compared to last year, of the same period (April, 2020).
Though the ultimate targets of the militants remain Somali government officials, installations, Somali security forces and AMISOM troops, Somali population (civilians) has suffered the heavy brunt of the Al-Qaeda aligned militants. In Kenya northeastern prefectures, the militants continue to target security forces especially those on patrol and communication masts.
According to terror events recorded from April 10 to April 17, Al-Shabaab remains active in Somalia only claiming one attack in Kenyan county of Wajir. During this period, the terrorist group has conducted at least four attacks in the capital Mogadishu with 10 casualties being recorded. At least 5, notably civilians suffered injuries from these attacks. Another 3, Somali government forces and 2 government officials perished from the attacks.
In Mogadishu, the Al-Shabaab mainly used Improvised Explosive Devices, Remote Controlled Improvised Explosive Device IEDs/RCIED) and landmine targeting government security forces. Mogadishu continue to witness high number civilian casualties recorded compared to other regions of Somalia.
Lower Shabelle is an administrative region in southern Somalia also continues to record at least 2-3 attacks per week. This week Al-Shabaab has claimed at least two attacks on SNA and AMISOM bases in Qorleyoley and Barawe districts of Lower Shabelle. The low scale attacks recorded at least seven injuries; four were civilians and there were SNA.
The population in this region main activities include; nomadic agricultural, agricultural, nomadic, and urban sedentary. This makes Lower Shabelle attractive for terrorists to operate in citing the many mentioned economic activities that benefits the terrorist group.
Lower Shabelle continue to record repeat attacks. On April 1, Al-Shabaab using an IE targeted SNA troops returning to their base in Awdhengle. Casualties were reported from that raid.
In Middle and Lower Shabelle regions of Somalia, the Al-Shabaab militants favor guerilla ambushes and land mines and take cover in the thickets and vegetation. They militants take advantage of the terrain and geographical advantages to mount elaborate ambushes targeting AMISOM and SNA troops operational in the areas.
Middle Shabelle located in the central regions of Somalia also continue to record at least an attack per week. This week, Al-Shabaab conducted two IED attacks targeting AMISOM troops but four civilians were caught up in the low scale explosion.
It’s notable that, Al-Shabaab continues to deploy IED, RCIEDs and Landmines as preferred attack types. Security forces both SNA and AMISOM remains the group’s key target. Mogadishu, Middle and Lower Shabelle remains the group’s strong operational areas of Somalia. In Jamaame, Lower Juba, Al-Shabaab executed by shooting another six Somali’s on allegation that they were spying for foreign and local intelligence assets.
Conclusion
The article discusses some of the features that are relevant to the terrorism activities perpetrated by these Al-Qaeda branch in Somalia, Al-Shabaab. Further, it briefly demonstrates the contribution of deaths and injuries of innocent Somali’s and at times displacement of locals fearing for their lives; thus, it illustrates the dire need for comprehensive counterterrorism approaches in Kenya and Somalia. Due to the complexity and lethality of terrorism in the named region, there is a need to reconsider new strategies such as human security-based (HUMINT and SOCMINT) approaches, which are prerequisite for effective counterterrorism fight.
