The Islamic States (Daesh) terror group branch in Somalia, Abna Ul-Calipha conducted 2 daring attacks in Somalia during the weekend ending 4th of August 2019. The terror group through IS Central core media outlet, Amaq Agency, issued separate statements claiming the attacks. The attacks come barely a week after the group Abnaa Ul-Calipha, published high definition virtual posters targeting its fan boys and fighters. Two posters were published and distributed through high dimension communication networks mainly Twitter and Telegram. They encouraged fighters to make the fundamentalist branch to succeed while at the same time, targeted fan boys who in most cases convert to radical members.
The 1st attack was conducted in the capital Mogadishu. The group deployed a close-range assassin to target and kill a Somali security officer on Saturday.
The 2end attack happened Sunday 4th August. The terrorist group issued a statement claiming its team deployed an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting a vehicle of Puntalnd’s former Minister Shire Haji Farah in the port city of Bassaso. The attack was unsuccessful. The strategy of assassination is not only dangerous but psychologically effective. Government and Religious leaders opposed to the terror groups ideology are targeted as a means to even the ground and allow gradual outbidding of both houses of socio-religious and sociopolitical leadership.
The use of an IED is rare with IS Somalia, Abna Ul Caliphaa. It is a rare event and an eye opener to intelligence and military officials tasked to counter the group. The event is a confirmation the group has acquired capacity and capability to design, assemble, and safely deploy an improvised explosive device, and this is a setback to counter terrorism efforts in Northern Somalia.
