Counter Terrorism Intelligence Brief for East Africa (Kenya & Somalia) Shabaab Al-Mujahideen in Period of June 5th – June 9th 2020.
The Al-Qaeda armed Islamist extremist group Al-Shabaab continue with its series of bloody successes against both Somali targets and the African Union peacekeeping troops, AMISOM from across regions of Somalia. Al-Shabaab activities have significantly reduced in Kenya, the neighbor of Somalia. In a couple of past weeks, there have been no major terror incident reported especially in the country’s frontier counties of Mandera, Wajir and Garissa) an indication of alertness and improved of the CT assets in terms of ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance).
In Somalia, the militants remain active in theater in several regions, with at least six attacks being recorded. Despite waning capabilities in conducting massive raids, the militant Islamist group continues to demonstrate ability to adapt to counterterrorism operations by AMISOM and AFRICOM that supports the Somali Army troops besides conducting surprise attacks.
The militant group has targeted military and police convoys in Beledweyne and Bakool regions in central Somalia. Its possible the militants have learnt of the daily routines of the security assets in these regions citing the notable IED, grenade attacks and ambush attack on patrol units.
Ethiopian troops, in the past few weeks have dealt a significant blow from Shabaab attacks. The militant group has targeted Ethiopian convoys in Gedo and in Bay and Bakool regions in the recent assaults, with dozens of fatalities being reported.
The militant group also continue to perfect targeted assassination and key government individuals and also on security forces. To avoid detection in its movement, the group continues to deploy a small unit of assassins to down on the targets. In the past five days militant group has conducted at least six attacks among them notable two assassinations.
Recent Claimed Attacks (June 5th – June 9th 2020)
- June 6. Somali police killed in an IED explosion. Another three police officers wounded in the same blast. Al-Shabaab hurled a hand grenade at the police officers on patrol mission in the city of Beledweyne in central Somalia.
- June 6. Heavy fighting reported between Al-Shabaab fighters and Ethiopian troops outside Hudur town. Al-Shabaab on its pro-media claimed responsibility of the attack saying that its fighters ambushed troops convoy and killing dozens including those allied to the pro-government forces loyal to Mukhtar Robow. The troubled Hudur is a town in the south Western Bakool region of Somalia. It serves as the province’s capital and is the center of the Hudur District.
- June 7. Somali police identified as Mahamed Ali was shot dead by Al-Shabaab Assassins in the vicinity of Mogadishu’s Howlwadag district.
- June 7. Local government official shot dead by Al-Shabaab operative welding pistol in Huriwaa district. Huriwaa is a district in the southeastern Banaadir region of Somalia. It includes the northeastern neighborhoods of the national capital, Mogadishu.
- 7 June. Heavy clashes reported between Al-Shabaab militants and Somali army troops near Abal village, about 18km south of Hudur, Bakool region of Somalia. 26 killed from the warring sides with Al-Shabaab claiming to have killed 15 soldiers including 2 commanders trained by Turkey.
- June 8. Al-Shabaab suicide bomber detonated himself inside a Mogadishu military camp. At least three soldiers were reported to have been killed in the attack. A senior army chief managed to escape the attack unhurt. The militant operative had disguised as a member of the military to gain access to the training camp.
Insights
Strategic Intelligence (S.I) continue to track on the militant’s activities in East Africa, especially in Kenya and Somalia.
While some of these attacks are low-scale raids, they are significant and continue to make the militant group remain relevant in the jihadist circles.
Counterterrorism operators to take precaution by enhancing surveillance in the locations and localities mapped with repeat attacks. Change of daily routines on patrol teams also advisable to minimize targeted ambushes and landmine attacks on MSRs.
Notable surge of militant’s activities in Bay and Bakool regions of Somalia. Vegetation and regions’ geography favoring militant’s in mounting guerilla ambushes and IED assaults on security forces.
Increasing activities should be wake-up call to counterterrorism operators responsible for mapped region to pursue the militants to their last hideouts, thereby making sure gains so far made are not reversed at a time AMISOM, an ally of the Federal government is scheduled to exit Somalia in 2021.
