#Al-Shabaab militants

[kenyagist]

Al-Shabaab Militants Carry Out Gruesome Attack in Kenya, Leaving Five Civilians Dead, Including a Student

In a horrifying incident, five innocent Kenyan civilians lost their lives as al-Shabaab militants launched a vicious assault on two villages in Lamu County on Saturday evening. The police, along with witnesses, have confirmed the distressing events that unfolded. The attack occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. when the armed assailants stormed the villages, forcibly dragging the victims out of…

[somalilandcurrentnews]

Somalia’s Liberated Areas: A Call for Internationally -Mobilized Stabilization Fund

Over the last month or so, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (HSM) has been leading the fight against Al-Shabab from the frontlines as the first-round offensive against the terrorists is nearing its completion. With the second-round offensive that will shift the battle to the southern regions of Jubaland and South-West State now on the horizon, attention is turning to the stabilization of large…

[zvaigzdelasas]

[Garowe Online is Puntland Private Media & takes a position against Somaliland independence]

For the first time in history, Al-Shabaab militants have spoken from the same script with the federal government of Somalia, condemning Ethiopia's controversial agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region of the Horn of Africa nation.

The group, which is fighting to topple the current [Federal Government of Somalia], warned that Ethiopia should keep off internal affairs of the country, adding that no single inch of Somalia’s water can be taken by Addis Ababa, which signed an agreement with Somaliland.

Ali Dheere, the spokesperson of the group, said “It will not be possible for them [Ethiopia] to take an inch of the Somali waters".[...]

Al-Shabaab said the conflict between Somalis and Ethiopia is a "religious war" and claimed Somalis have lost all conflicts with Ethiopia/Abyssinia that were not "non-Islamic struggles," referencing the "mujahidin's victory" in 2009 when Ethiopia withdrew following its 2006 invasion

Al-Shabaab also called on all Somalis to "liberate the country" from all "infidel invaders" "from Halane [in Mogadishu] to Zayla'a and Berbera [in Somaliland], opposing the Somaliland MOU & the Somali federal government's security agreements with Ethiopia The remarks come at the time Al-Shabaab is facing a charm offensive from the Somali National Army with assistance from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], the US Africa Command, and local militia. The militants have lost over 3,000 fighters.

6 Jan 24

[ptseti]

KEYAS SUPREME COURT STOPS THE HAITIAN OCCUPY

Watch the moment today when Kenya’s High Court judge quashed the government's attempt to deploy 1,000 cops to Haiti. Justice Chacha Mwita termed the move unconstitutional and, therefore, null and void. This ruling is the culmination of a back-and-forth in the corridors of justice to the president’s frustration. The United States had set aside $200 million to foot the bill.

The deployment has been unpopular both in Kenya and in Haiti. The sentiment has been that Kenya’s police should deal with insecurity at home, particularly in the country’s North Eastern Province, where the militant group Al-Shabaab operates.

In Haiti, the memory of previous interventions is all too fresh. UN peacekeepers have been accused for almost two decades of sexual abuse, killings and for starting a cholera epidemic that killed more than 10,000 Haitians, according to conservative estimates.

[necarion]

According to a study by the Watson Institute at Brown University, civilian airstrike deaths in Afghanistan increased by 330% during the Trump presidency. And the Watson study largely credits this increase to a Trump regulation that relaxed the rules of engagement for airstrikes at the beginning of his presidency. As a result, the US military bombed more indiscriminately and more civilians died. Or, as the Watson study says quite bluntly, “When the United States tightens its rules of engagement and restricts air strikes where civilians are at risk, civilian casualties tend to go down; when it loosens those restrictions, civilians are injured and killed in greater numbers.” This wasn’t exclusive to Afghanistan. Airstrikes under Trump increased sixfold in Yemen, and there were more civilian deaths from airstrikes in Somalia under Trump than under Bush and Obama combined. Trump also oversaw a 200% increase in airstrike deaths in Iraq and Syria. In another move demonstrating how little Trump cared about airstrikes striking civilians, he removed an Obama-era rule that mandated reporting on civilian deaths from airstrikes. Conversely, Biden reversed Trump’s free-for-all airstrike policy, and tightened strike rules to ensure a “near certainty” that any strike does not injure civilians. He also banned signature strikes, a form of drone strike that targets groups of people and that is frequently cited as the form of airstrike resulting in the highest civilian casualties. As a result, in the first year of his presidency, Biden “nearly ended the drone war.” Biden did increase airstrikes in Somalia in 2022 in response to a wave of fighting from al-Shabaab militants. But overall, deaths from airstrikes have plummeted under Biden from the historic peaks they reached under Trump. Again, this isn’t an issue that receives substantial coverage. But airstrikes are a significant part of modern US military operations. More humane policies that lessen the impact airstrikes have on civilian populations make a major difference.

(From one of the linked articles, from the end of 2021):

Where Trump oversaw more than 1,600 air and artillery strikes in Iraq and Syria during his first 11 months in office, Airwars reports just four during Biden's term so far. Strikes in Somalia fell from roughly 75 last year to fewer than 10 this year, with no civilian casualties. And in Yemen, the annual total dropped from about 18 to maybe four, with fewer than 10 casualties of any kind. (Precise figures are unclear because some strikes are classified.)

I didn't know how stark these statistics were. Obviously there have been additional strikes in Yemen since this this was published. But also, I think there have been almost zero civilian casualties, which is an astounding difference from Trump, and even from Obama. (Also, Trump stripped away rules that prevented indiscriminate drone strikes on civilian areas or on things like weddings, which Biden almost immediately restored).

Just, like, on every possible foreign policy axis, Biden has been so much better for peace than Trump: ignoring the Rohinga Genocide, pulling out of the UN Human Rights Council, not just stopping tracking but censoring any reports of human rights abuses or sexual violence in other countries, pulling out of the Iran deal which could have brought them into the Western sphere (with benefits for Iranian citizens and all the victims of militant groups, including Russia, that it has been funding).

[workersolidarity]

🇸🇴 🚨 💥SOMALIA LAUNCHES LARGE-SCALE OPERATIONS TARGETING AL-SHABAAB HELD TERRITORIES, MORE THAN 70 MILITANTS KILLED💥

The Somali military launched large-scale ground operations targeting territory held by the Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen militant group, commonly known as al-Shabaab.

The Somali military says heavy fighting took place between Somali troops and al-Shabaab militants in the Aboodin area of the Lower Jubba region amid a strong military ground offensive into the rebel-held territories with close U.S. air support.

According to a statement released by the Somali military, more than 70 al-Shabaab fighters were killed and dozens more wounded in the fighting.

Allied forces consisting of the Somali military and Jubaland soldiers attacked concentrations of al-Shabaab's group leaders, leading to the deaths of a number of senior commanders.

"More than 70 militants and leaders were killed in the war,” the Somali military said in its statement, adding that the U.S. military provided air support to the ground operation in Al-Shabaab strongholds.

#source

@WorkerSolidarityNews

[saxafimedianetwork]

Somaliland Denounces Alleged Attack on Qorilugud by Mogadishu Regime and Al-Shabaab Militants

#Somaliland strongly condemns the violent assault by the Mogadishu admin, local militias & #AlShabaab-affiliated militants in #Buuhoodle, targeting civilians & threatening democratic #elections. We call on the int'l community to condemn this aggression.

Continue reading Somaliland Denounces Alleged Attack on Qorilugud by Mogadishu Regime and Al-Shabaab Militants

[leprivatebanker]

Somalia security cameras aim to cut al Shabaab attacks but militants fight back

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 9.28 (after 1920)

1924 – The first aerial circumnavigation is completed by a team from the US Army. 1928 – Alexander Fleming notices a bacteria-killing mold growing in his laboratory, discovering what later became known as penicillin. 1939 – World War II: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union agree on a division of Poland. 1939 – World War II: The siege of Warsaw comes to an end. 1941 – World War II: The Drama uprising against the Bulgarian occupation in northern Greece begins. 1941 – Ted Williams achieves a .406 batting average for the season, and becomes the last major league baseball player to bat .400 or better. 1944 – World War II: Soviet Army troops liberate Klooga concentration camp in Estonia. 1951 – CBS makes the first color televisions available for sale to the general public, but the product is discontinued less than a month later. 1961 – A military coup in Damascus effectively ends the United Arab Republic, the union between Egypt and Syria. 1970 – Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser dies of a heart attack in Cairo. 1973 – The ITT Building in New York City is bombed in protest at ITT's alleged involvement in the coup d'état in Chile. 1975 – The Spaghetti House siege, in which nine people are taken hostage, takes place in London. 1986 – The Democratic Progressive Party becomes the first opposition party in Taiwan. 1992 – A Pakistan International Airlines flight crashes into a hill in Nepal, killing all 167 passengers and crew. 1994 – The cruise ferry MS Estonia sinks in the Baltic Sea, killing 852 people. 1995 – Bob Denard and a group of mercenaries take the islands of the Comoros in a coup. 1995 – Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat sign the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 2000 – Al-Aqsa Intifada: Ariel Sharon visits Al-Aqsa Mosque known to Jews as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. 2008 – Falcon 1 becomes the first privately developed liquid-fuel ground-launched vehicle to put a payload into orbit by the RatSat mission. 2008 – The Singapore Grand Prix is held as Formula One's inaugural night race, with Fernando Alonso winning the event. Almost a year later it was revealed that Alonso's team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr. had been ordered to crash his car to help bring out the safety car and give Alonso the advantage and win. 2009 – The military junta leading Guinea attacks a protest rally, killing or wounding 1,400 people. 2012 – Somali and African Union forces launch a coordinated assault on the Somali port of Kismayo to take back the city from al-Shabaab militants. 2012 – Sita Air Flight 601 crashes in Madhyapur Thimi, Nepal, killing all 19 passengers and crew. 2014 – The 2014 Hong Kong protests begin in response to restrictive political reforms imposed by the NPC in Beijing. 2016 – The 2016 South Australian blackout occurs, lasting up to three days in some areas. 2018 – The 7.5 Mw 2018 Sulawesi earthquake, which triggered a large tsunami, leaves 4,340 dead and 10,679 injured. 2023 – The 2023 Rotterdam shootings occurred, during which two people were killed in a shooting and arson incident at a residence in Delfshaven, Rotterdam. Additionally, one person lost their life in a classroom at the Erasmus University Medical Center.

[nsfwhiphop]

Fun Fact about USA and UK and African Union corruption in Somalia.

Question:

Why are there African Union forces, as well as British and American bases, in Mogadishu, Somalia?

ChatGPT Answer:

The presence of African Union forces, a British base, and an American base in Mogadishu, Somalia, is part of a complex international effort to address various issues in the region. Here’s a breakdown of each:

African Union Forces

Mission: The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was established in 2007 to support the Somali government in its efforts to combat the militant group al-Shabaab and restore stability to the country.

Objectives: AMISOM's main goals are to protect civilians, assist in peacekeeping, and support the Somali National Army in its fight against terrorism.

Members: The mission includes troops from several African countries, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Burundi.

British Base

Purpose: The UK has been involved in Somalia primarily through counter-terrorism and training efforts. The British base in Mogadishu is part of the UK's support for the Somali government and its efforts to counter extremist groups.

Roles: The British military’s roles may include training Somali forces, providing logistical support, and participating in counter-terrorism operations.

American Base

Purpose: The United States has been involved in Somalia for decades, focusing on counter-terrorism, humanitarian aid, and supporting the Somali government.

Roles: The American base in Mogadishu supports U.S. counter-terrorism operations, including those targeting al-Shabaab and other extremist groups. It also helps with training and equipping Somali forces.

Context and Coordination

Security Situation: Somalia has faced significant instability and violence, primarily due to the presence of extremist groups and ongoing internal conflicts. The international presence aims to stabilize the country and support peacebuilding efforts.

Coordination: While these forces and bases have different national interests and objectives, their activities are often coordinated to ensure a unified approach to stabilizing Somalia and addressing security threats.

This international involvement reflects a broader effort to address the complex challenges facing Somalia and support its path toward stability and development.

[warningsine]

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/explosion-goes-off-beach-somali-capital-prime-minister-says-2024-08-02/

MOGADISHU, Aug 3 (Reuters) - At least 32 civilians were killed and 63 injured in an explosion on a popular beach in the Somali capital Mogadishu late on Friday evening, police said, an attack blamed by Somali state media on the militant Islamist group al Shabaab.

It was the deadliest attack in the Horn of Africa country since twin car bombs detonated near a busy market intersection in October 2022, killing at least 100 people and wounding 300 others.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility by the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab, which has claimed similar attacks in the past, including the car bomb attack in 2022.

Police spokesperson Abdifatah Aden gave the death toll in Friday evening's explosion at a beach restaurant.

In addition to the civilians killed, Aden said that one of the attackers had blown himself up while three others had been killed by security forces. One attacker was captured alive while one soldier was killed during the assault.

State news agency SONNA had earlier said five al Shabaab attackers had been killed by security forces while a sixth had blown himself up during the assault.

Hassan Farah, a survivor, described the shock as the explosion shattered a peaceful evening.

"I was in the restaurant sipping coffee and having a good chat with friends when I saw a big man running, in a second there was something like lightening and a huge blast," he told Reuters.

"We were covered with smoke. Inside and outside the restaurant many people were lying on the floor while others were bleeding and crying."

Videos posted on X showed bodies lying on the beach in the dark, and people running to safety.

Al Shabaab controlled a vast area of Somalia before being pushed back in government counteroffensives since 2022. However, the militants remain capable of launching significant attacks on government, commercial, and military targets.

"The fact that the terrorist attack coincides with this night when the beach is the most congested shows the hostility of the terrorists to the Somali people," former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said on his X account.

[thoughtlessarse]

The African Union (AU) has backed the creation of a new force to replace the more than 10,000 troops of its peacekeeping mission due to leave Somalia by end of December. This comes amid signs and alarm that Shabaab extremists have grown stronger. There is good reason to be afraid, and Shabaab looks to present a greater danger to the East African region than ever before. Troops from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti and Ethiopia, have fought Al-Shabaab since 2007, first as the AU Mission in Somalia (Amisom), and lately as the Transition Mission (Atmis), as the jihadist group fights to overthrow Somalia’s government. In the past 14 years, Shabaab has carried out a series of deadly terror attacks in Somalia, Kenya and Uganda, killing hundreds of civilians and US defence contractors. Its biggest attack farthest from Somalia was in Kampala, in two bombings that killed 76 football fans who were watching World Cup final in July 2010. On September 21, 2013, it carried out a brazen attack on the upmarket Westgate Mall in Nairobi. When the siege ended three days later, there were 71 deaths, including 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and all four gunmen.

continue reading

[somalilandcurrentnews]

Deadly Al-Shabaab attack at Mogadishu’s Liido Beach leaves 15 dead and more than 100+ injured

Victims lie on the sand at Liido Beach in Mogadishu, Somalia, following a brutal attack by al-Shabaab militants on Friday evening. The assault, which began with a suicide bomber detonating an explosive vest at the Beach View Hotel, resulted in 15 deaths and over 100 injuries. Security forces later neutralized five attackers and evacuated trapped civilians. (Photo by a local resident) Mogadishu— A…

[stuartelden]

Samar Al-Bulushi, War-Making as Worldmaking: Kenya, the United States and the War on Terror - Stanford University Press, November 2024

Samar Al-Bulushi, War-Making as Worldmaking: Kenya, the United States and the War on Terror – Stanford University Press, November 2024 Since Kenya’s invasion of Somalia in 2011, the Kenyan state has been engaged in direct combat with the Somali militant group Al-Shabaab, conducting airstrikes in southern Somalia and deploying heavy-handed police tactics at home. As the hunt for suspects has…

[blogcowboyron]

Iran Update, March 21, 2024

Mar 21, 2024 – ISW Press JNIM Encroaches on Guinea; al Shabaab Hotel Attack Mar 22, 2024 – ISW Press Al Qaeda–linked militants in Mali have increased attacks along Mali’s border with Guinea as part of an ongoing campaign to degrade Malian lines of communication around the capital. The al Qaeda–linked militants are unlikely to expand attacks into Guinea, but sustained activity along the Guinean…