Increased Al-Shabaab activity continue to be recorded in East Africa region. The Al-Qaeda aligned Islamist militant group notably has especially targeted Somalia and Kenya in those attacks. The group’s increased activity continues to pose threat and significant burden on the countries of the Horn of Africa and more so to regional forces combating them particularly at a time the countries are battling with global Covid-19 pandemic.
Its notable the attacks in the past five days have significantly reduced citing the Islamist militants are known to upscale attacks over the weekends. At least six attacks were reported. Five attacks in Somalia spread in Hiran, Lower Juba and Galgaduud regions. One attack was recorded in Kenya’s Mandera prefectures.
Increased militant’s activities continue to be reported from across a number of theaters in Somalia though the militant group persistently has sustained insurgency in central and southern regions. One incident of attempted ambush on Kenyan security patrol team was reported in Alunga vicinity, Lafey of Mandera county. The incident was successfully countered by the army troops killing five militants and recovering their assault rifles.
Recently Claimed Attacks (September 18th – September 22nd)
- On September 18th, A hand grenade was hurled into a busy restaurant in Beledweyne town of Hiran. Initial reports indicate that the grenade targeted government soldiers who are frequent customers of the restaurant. Two civilians were injured in the grenade blast.
- On September 20th, Explosion hits Beledweyne town. The IED explosion targeted a gathering of SNA in Beledweyne town, the administrative capital of Hiran region of Somalia. One SNA soldier was killed and others injured in the explosion.
- On September 20th, Al-Shabaab attempted attack on AMISOM base located in area of Qoqani, Lower Juba repulsed. The militants fired mortar shells from a distance prompting the AMISOM troops to respond and subsequently repelled the attempted attack. No casualties were reported.
- On September 21st, SNA convoy hit by landmine in Dhusamareb, Galgaduud region. A convoy of Somali National Army and Galmudug state Forces was hit by a landmine one soldier killed and three others injured in the outskirts of Dhusamareb. Also, the landmine destroyed one of the military technicals. Similar fighting happened last week in the outskirts of Dhusamareb.
- On September 21st, Al-Shabaab ambush on Kenyan patrol team in Alungu, Lafey of Mandera NEP successfully countered. Five Al-Shabaab militants killed in the botched raid. The army troops also recovered their assault rifles.
- On September 21st, Al-Shabaab from different directions raided military base operated by Jubaland security forces in the vicinity of Afmadow, Lower Juba region of Somalia. Details on casualties remains scanty.
Latest CT Interventions
The Islamist Al-Shabaab remains the primary direct threat to peace and security in Somalia in particular and the Horn of Africa region in general. Though most of the group’s attacks are low-scale raids, they are significant to the group’s survival and relevance.
Counterterrorism assets also continue to mount pressure on Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia. In past few days, Al-Shabaab has also dealt blows from CT-operations in Somalia and Kenya as listed below;
- Joint troops on Monday 21st September 2020 took control of five villages in Galgadud region of Galmudug state in which had been under the Al-Shabaab control. Military sources indicate that Bula’ale, Hirsi fiin, El Gureye, God Durwa and El Ali mire areas which are south of Dhusamareb, the capital of Galmudug state were liberated.
- In another counterterrorism operation in Lower Shabelle, AMISOM supported the weak Federal Government troops, killed at least 13 militants and wounded several others.
- The capture of the above areas added to several others regained in the recent joint Somali and African Union forces operations and is gradually reducing the militant group’s hold of the swathes in the southern Somalia.
- In Kenya’s NEP, Al-Shabaab dealt a huge blow after five of its fighters were killed in a botched ambush attempt on Kenyan patrol team in Alunga vicinity, Lafey of Mandera county.
Strategic Intelligence (S.I) continues to track and monitor the Islamist militant’s activity in the Horn of Africa region and warns of unchanged militant’s upsurge. The militant’s intentions to strike on hard targets (security forces) in Somalia and in Kenya remains the militant’s ultimate goal. Joint CT and COIN actors not to relent on mounting concerted military pressuring on the Islamists groups. The Al-Qaeda aligned Islamist militant group is seen to be bent on thwarting the forthcoming elections in the Horn of Africa country and if not decisively countered, could deal blows to counter-terrorism gains so far made in the region.
