Al-Shabaab Takes Kenyan Village as Ugandan President Declares They Are Weak
Over 30 foreigners, reported to be members of al-Shabaab, have taken over a village in Mandera County, Kenya on June 1st. As a result, hundreds of civilians have fled, leaving their homes out of fear that an attack is imminent. In addition, four schools (including the Gari Boys Secondary School) have closed down.
Al-Shabaab gunmen were allegedly seen on a road near the Gari Boys Secondary School, causing students to flee for safety. Villagers are now seeking refugee in Elwak and other Mandera Country towns.
While there has yet to be an attack, according to Wankara Ward Representative Abdirashid Maalim, the gunmen have been traveling between the Gari Shopping Center and Warankara Town warning civilians to stay away from their camp and to refrain from telling authorities about their presence.
Mr. Maalim reported that the jihadists have been harassing locals and that they are carrying a large sum of money. He fears that this money will be used to entice young civilians to join al-Shabaab and fight on their behalf.
Mandera County, like Garissa, is located on Kenya’s eastern border, near Somalia. Less than two months ago Kenya was greatly affected by an attack on Garissa University where several al-Shabaab gunmen killed 148 people after releasing all the Muslim students.
The schools in Mandera County fear that a repeat of what happened in Garissa will occur, and because of that, have temporarily closed down. The school has requested that the government send additional security so that students can return to school.
Just one day after al-Shabaab’s advancement in Mandera County, President Museveni of Uganda addressed Kenyans during Madaraka Day Celebrations arguing that al-Shabaab has weakened and demonstrated that they are defeated by not attacking military facilities or ambushing soldiers.
This interpretation of al-Shabaabs power greatly misrepresents the jihadist group. Al-Shabaab is not an enemy country and therefore it has different goals than simply engaging opposing countries’ militaries. The majority of attacks are against civilians who exercise a different ideology. Attacking civilians does not demonstrate defeat as Museveni argues but is rather part of their agenda because the civilians they attack are non-Muslim and often times Christian students and civilians.
Furthermore, al-Shabaab has proven time and time again that they are strong enough to launch impressive attacks with limited resources and a lack of territory. They have conducted attacks in Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia. In order to maintain control and prevent further attacks like the one on Garissa University, Kenya needs to send more security to Mandera County and force al-Shabaab out.
