The year has begun with increased Al-Shabaab activity in East Africa especially in terrorists home base, Somalia. In almost the first two weeks of January 2021, Al-Shabaab has increased tempo in its activity from across the regions of Somalia. Few activities have also been reported on Kenya’s border counties neighboring Somalia.
Large scale attacks slowly resuming from across the regions of the war-torn Somalia where the Islamist militants continue to target civilians and military targets. Al-Shabaab have registered claims of at least an attack in Somalia almost on a daily basis.
Among the notable recent claims include;
- On January 2, Al-Shabaab claims attack targeting Turkish nationals in Lafoole near Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab reportedly claimed a suicide bombing in Lafoole near Mogadishu on Jan. 2. The attack targeted Turkish engineers working on a road construction project between Afgooye and Mogadishu. At least one Turkish national and two security personnel were among the fatalities. As many as four other Turkish nationals and two other security personnel were injured as per military sources.
- On January 3, two NISA (Somali Intelligence) agents shot dead by suspected Al-Shabaab assassins in Mogadishu’s Wardhigley district as per local sources.
- On January 5, Somalia Police spokesman, Sadiq Ali, survives an assassination attempt after bomb blast hit his vehicle near Mogadishu airport. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility.
- On January 5, Huge explosion and clashes reported between security forces and Al-Shabaab militants in Mogadishu, Somalia.
- On January 7, Explosion claimed by Al-Qaeda affiliate, Al-Shabaab was reported near KM4 in Mogadishu. Reports indicate that an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting a military vehicle exploded occurred near the KM4 junction of Mogadishu, the morning of Jan. 7. Initial reports suggest that at least one person died and two others were injured in the incident.
- On January 8, A vehicle laden with explosives (VBIED) targeting civilians destroyed during an operation in the Lower Shabelle province of Somalia. Five militants also killed.
- On January 9, Al-Shabaab militants clashed with Somali National Army (SNA) and African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces in Beledweyne town in southern Somalia’s Hiraan region.
- On January 10, Al-Shabaab militants ambushed a SNA military base in central Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region. The attack killed three SNA soldiers.
- On January 10, Al-Shabaab militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting AMISOM troops near the Kenyan-Somali border. The attack was however repulsed and no major casualties were reported.
- On January 10, Al-Shabaab claimed bomb attack on senior district officials in Somalia. Al-Shabaab militants attacked a vehicle carrying Luuq DC Ahmed Bule and police chief Abdullahi Hussein, causing unspecified casualties as they were on their way to Dolow district from Luuq.
- On January 10, Fierce exchange of gunfire between police and Al-Shabaab reported in Mogadishu’s Yaqshid district. Unconfirmed number of injured reported.
- On January 11, Al-Shabaab Landmine explosion kills two in Somali capital Mogadishu. At least two people including a police officer were killed and seven others wounded on Monday in a landmine explosion targeting a vehicle carrying police officers in Mogadishu’s Dharkinley district as per police sources.
- On January 11, Nairobi-bound passenger bus was ambushed by suspected Shabaab militants in the outskirts of Derkale area in Kenya’s Mandera County. Initial reports suggest no casualties.
- On January 11, Al-Shabaab claimed attack on SNA soldiers on the outskirts of Balad district of Middle Shabelle. At least three soldiers were killed in an ambush on the outskirts of Balad and two rifles and ammunition were confiscated as per local sources.
Al-Shabaab terrorist group continue to claim responsibility for the attacks their attacks through their various online propaganda media channels. Its worrisome that the latest series of attacks confirms that Al-Shabaab Mujahideen Movement increased raids and even large-scale attacks in Somalia, targeting both civilians and military targets at a time Somalia is engulfed in regional tiffs with her neighbors.
If the Federal Government of Somalia continues to bicker with its perceived rivals, chances are Al-Shabaab will continue exploit such opportunities to strike and escalate attacks daily from across the regions of Somalia. It is therefore vital that Mogadishu puts such unwarranted differences aside so that joint counterterrorism attention is not diverted from Al-Shabaab terrorists.
