A Garre tribe militia is behind the militant attack that largely targeted a security escort vehicle in Banissa area of Mandera County, upper NEP Kenya. This is the same group that attacked a communications mast and a police post in the same area in January 2020. Media and local politicians claimed it was an Al-Shabaab Mujahideen attack. The specific militia controls cannabis trade in the area. The Bhang originates from Shashamaane in Ethiopia and sold in Somalia. The group also controls contraband and human trafficking trade in the border area. The Somali terrorist group has not officially claimed the attack though affiliate media referenced Kenyan media in their reports attributing the attack to the terrorist organization.
The group has links with the Al-Qaeda affiliate in Somalia, Harakat Shabaab al Mujahideen. The group buys used and refurbished arms from the Somali based terrorist group in an apparent symbiosis. A significant number of the militia are trained by Shabaab while others are former and active members of the terrorist group.
Proceeds of the cannabis, human trafficking, and contraband trade funds terrorism. Kenya security forces over the past one year cracked down on the networks. This has led to a steady decline in the vices and related criminal activities. This has forced the militia which is backed by local clan stewards and businessmen to morph. Targeting rival clan business networks to coerce and extort is a commonplace morphing strategy. Insecurity forces the rival clan business network to pay the militia a fee to be allowed to operate in the area.
In the Monday incident, at 1430hrs EAT, the militants ambushed and fired assault rifle fire, likely AK-52, at 2 passengers bus vehicles plying the Ola-Sarman route. A Passenger was killed, while approximately 10 passengers sustained gunshot wounds. The area lies along the road to Banissa area in the north and is believed to be a flashpoint. The militant burnt down the police vehicle, a Toyota Land-Cruiser, while 3 police officer got lightly injured. The incident came days after 2 locals were arrested. The 2 were part of a group of locals who intercepted a security team which had confiscated a motorcycle suspected to be owned by a member of the local militia.
