The Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab continue to stage attacks in the East African nation of Somalia and her neighbor Kenya. Its notable that targets for the Islamist militant groups had become elusive due to coronavirus that advocated against large gatherings, but normalcy is returning in East Africa countries and so the threat of lethal attacks also rising. That notwithstanding, Al-Shabaab militants are still conducting attacks especially on hard targets.
However, innocent casualties have been caught up in the enemy crossfire. The worrying surge in civilian harm in Somalia and Al-Shabaab’s persistent role in that trend are inarguable. What lies behind this trend on soft targets, however, is an equal cause for concern to counterterrorism actors.
Increased militant’s activities continue to be reported from across a number of theaters especially in Somalia though the militant group persistently has sustained insurgency in central and southern regions. Bay and Hiiran have become persistent regions of Somalia targeted by Al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab is taking advantage of thicket vegetations and geography of these regions to stage guerilla ambush and IEDs along the major routes used by both local and foreign troops. Targeted assassinations and suicide missions steadily resuming in Somalia regions.
In the past five days, the Horn of nation of Somalia has witnessed at least eight attacks from Al-Shabaab. The Islamist militant group is seen to be bent on thwarting the forthcoming elections in the Horn of Africa country.
Recently Claimed Attacks (October 9th – October 13th)
- On October 10th, Dozens of Al-Shabaab militants attacked a Somali police station in Jalalaqsi town in the south-central Hiran province of Somalia. The attack was however repulsed by the officers who were manning the town and the station with two militants being killed while several others sustained injuries in the increasing wave of violence instigated by the Islamist militants.
- On October 10th, Al-Shabaab claimed to have shot dead an intelligence officer in Galkayo town, the regional capital of Mudug region in central Somalia.
- On October 11th, Mortar rounds target Ethiopia military base at Qasahdhere airport in Somalia’s Bay region last night. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility.
- On October 11th, in another raid, the Al-Qaeda aligned Al-Shabaab claimed to have killed 2 AMISOM bomb disposal experts from Ugandan troops near Marka town in Lower Shabelle region.
- On October 11th, SNA soldier was killed by Al-Shabaab militants in Booco area of Halgan district, in the central Hiran region of Somalia.
- On October 11th, Al-Shabaab claimed to have killed six SNA soldiers and injuring others in armed assault on their base in Beledweyne, Hiran region of Somalia.
- On October 11th, Al-Shabaab claimed an attack on Jubaland Security Forces (JSF) on Kudhaa Island of Lower Juba. No casualties were reported.
- On October 12th, Al-Shabaab claim attack on Mogadishu’s Bakara market. Initial reports indicate that at least two security forces were killed in the gun raid.
Insight and Conclusion
Security analysts at Strategic Intelligence warn that the Somalia vote is likely to take place against the backdrop of renewed insecurity. The militant’s zeal and resurgence has been recorded despite the challenge of the Coronavirus; the group has been able to regroup as witnessed in their daily attacks relentlessly.
Notable, central and southern regions of Somalia have been persistent theaters of confrontations between Al-Shabaab and coalition forces. The militants continue to stage ambush attacks on military bases and their convoys, taking advantage of thick vegetation to lay IEDs on MSRs which have also become a frequent norm. However, targeted killings have become part of the group’s modus operandi.
The recorded attacks all in various regions of Somalia has seen civilians and military officers among the casualties. The upsurge in militant’s brutal violence comes despite ongoing airstrikes by the US military on the group and concerted COIN operations by local and coalition forces in Somalia.
Somalia’s Islamist militant group, Al-Shabaab, has often defied its challengers’ claims that it is in decline. In recent months, the movement has suffered a number of notable setbacks, including territorial losses, high-ranking commanders killed besides defections. The Somali Federal Government Forces (SNA), its internal and all its coalition foreign allies need to be clear-sighted on what they can do to stop another Al-Shabaab continued surge.
