Al-Shabaab Bombs Armed Guards Near Mogadishu Airport

United Nations and African Union facilities were struck by two suicide bombers on the morning of Tuesday, July 26th in Mogadishu, Somalia.

According to reports, two separate explosions occurred around the Mogadishu airport near an African Union base at around 9 a.m. Statements from Somali officials indicated that the first suicide bomber tried to speed through the barrier at the U.N. and A.U. Halene office using a car, but guards shot at the car until it was rendered inoperable and later exploded. Somali police say that following the initial breech, a second suicide bomber targeted the checkpoint attempting to follow behind the first attacker, was shot and immobilized, at which point the explosives strapped to him detonated.

According to police, many of the guards surrounding the base and escorting personnel to safety were killed or injured by the second bomber.  So far, thirteen individuals have been reported to have died; however, a anonymous police official indicated to Reuters that the guards were neither A.U., U.N., or Somali military. The guards killed in the attack were reportedly with an unnamed private security firm. This was confirmed by both A.U. and U.N. missions who claim neither units suffered fatalities in the dual bombardment.

Immediately proceeding the bombings, al-Shabaab cells claimed responsibility for the attack over their Andalus radio station. The station is known as the second largest al-Shabaab radio network distributing propaganda, and jihadi nasheeds (acapella singing).

Though al-Shabaab terrorists have conducted many terror operations inside Somalia in recent weeks, this particular attack on the U.N. and A.U. compounds was different in its modus operandi.  Specifically, Shabaab attacks are frequently followed by heavily armed insurgents aiming to hold a building or location for future operational purposes. These kinds of attacks can be viewed in the multiple hotel bombings and even the recent military outpost attack.

Yet, the July 26th Shabaab attacks occurred without a follow-on assault possibly because security at the outpost was not be conducive to such an attempt. While al-Shabaab gave no specific explanation for the attack in the broadcast, the A.U. and U.N. have aided the Somali government in large operations to rid al-Shabaab of territory in key areas of the Eastern Africa. The efforts of the African Union and the United States which helped kill 150 jihadists in a drone strike in March of this year make the international agency and US prime targets of the terrorist group. Additionally the killing of some of al-Shabaabs top commanders that occurred in April with the help of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) provides additional motive for al-Shabaab’s attack against the African Union and United Nations.

Despite the rumors regarding the fragmentation of al-Shabaab in the last year due to the rise of Islamic State, it still appears that the group’s ties to al-Qaeda have maintained, while its operational capabilities haven’t been derailed at the hands of AU and US offensives. The Somali government has yet to find a solution to the frequent terror attacks in or around its countryside. Additionally, the larger African Union has not been able to prevent the spread of al-Shabaab even with significant aid from the United States. Regardless of these setbacks for Somali security, there remains a possibility that al-Shabaab’s internal divisions will hinder the group from increasing its operational capacity in Easter Africa. After all, al-Shabaab, like any group or party that faces internal fragmentation, is susceptible to a break down in of communications, operations, and leadership, which ultimately jeopardizes its success. Indicators of such disunity would include: the continued rise of Islamic State branches in Eastern Africa, defections of al-Shabaab leadership from the party, and more assassinations of the groups own members from within.