Tuesday 18,March  2025 {HMC} More than 100 suspected al-Shabab militants briefly took over a remote village in Kenya’s Lamu County, gathering residents, delivering a sermon, and distributing food before disappearing into the dense Boni Forest, security officials said Sunday.

The incursion, which occurred Saturday evening in Mangai village, prompted Kenyan security forces to launch an immediate operation in the area. Lamu County Commissioner Wesley Koech confirmed the infiltration, urging locals to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

“The good news is that no casualties were reported,” Koech told local media. “But security forces are closely monitoring the situation.”

Following the incident, additional security personnel were deployed Sunday morning to Mangai and surrounding villages. Kenyan forces had already been on heightened alert since the start of Ramadan, a period when al-Shabab has historically escalated its activities in the region.

According to residents, about 10 armed militants carrying AK-47 rifles entered the village around iftar, the evening meal that breaks the daily fast, and gathered local Muslim residents for a sermon on Islam.

Mangai is located within Boni Forest, a vast and densely wooded area along the Kenya-Somalia border. The forest has long been a hideout for al-Shabab fighters, who use the cover of thick vegetation to launch cross-border attacks and evade security forces.

Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked extremist group based in Somalia, has carried out multiple attacks in Kenya since 2011, targeting civilians, security personnel, and government installations. Authorities believe the militants maintain training camps and supply routes deep within Boni Forest.

Kenyan security forces have been conducting counterterrorism operations in the forest since 2015, but the group continues to exploit the porous border to stage attacks.

Saturday’s incident is the latest in a series of al-Shabab incursions in Lamu County. In May 2023, Kenyan forces killed several militants in Kumba, Lamu, after they attempted an ambush. Security forces later seized weapons and supplies the group had abandoned.

Kenya remains a key participant in regional counterterrorism efforts, with its forces stationed in Somalia as part of the African Union peacekeeping mission (ATMIS), supporting the Somali government’s battle against al-Shabab.

Despite ongoing military pressure, the militant group continues to exploit Kenya’s remote border regions, seeking to expand its influence and recruit local fighters.

SOURCE BBC

Tuesday 17,March  2025 {HMC} The Somali National Army, on Saturday, said it countered a terrorist attack by Al-Shabaab militias in Awdheegle District of Lower Shabelle and the Buursha Sheekh area of Middle Shabelle.

A statement released by the Somali military and carried by the country’s news agency, SONNA, said the Army delivered a significant blow to Al-Shabaab militants attempting to attack their positions.

The army countered an attack in Awdheegle District of Lower Shabelle and the Buursha Sheekh area of Middle Shabelle, where the militants suffered substantial losses, the statement said.
In a separate operation last night, the statement said the National Forces raided a gathering of Al-Shabaab militants in the Labada Garas area of Middle Shabelle.

It said the forces successfully eliminated all fighters present at the site.

“The National Forces continue to intensify their offensive against the group, aiming to dismantle its remaining strongholds and to clear the rural areas in the south and center of the country,” the statement said.

The attacks in Awdheegle District and the Buursha Sheekh area came a few days after the Army said it successfully killed five prominent Khawarij leaders, in reference to the Al-Shabaab militants.

The leaders were killed while the Army countered a terrorist attack in El Ali Ahmed district in Middle Shabelle in central Somalia.

The army identified the five members of Al-Shabaab militias, which authorities say are waging an insurgency against the Somali government.

In recent weeks, at least 13 soldiers were killed in attacks by Al-Shabaab militia on three military bases in Somalia, according to the military.

On the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, urged Somalis to stand together in support of the government and security forces in their efforts to eradicate terrorism.

“Our country has been invaded by a foreign terrorist ideology that has caused havoc for the past 18 years. Let us stand together and support our government and security forces in their war against terrorism,” he said, according to SONNA.

The President also honored the Somali Armed Forces, who are observing Ramadan while leading the fight to liberate the country from terrorism.

Tuesday 17,March  2025 {HMC} Authorities in Somalia have returned two rifles that were taken from a Kenyan police officer who was killed in an attack at a security post near the Kenya-Somalia border in Mandera County.

The weapons—a G3 and an AK47 rifle—were handed over to the Mandera security team on Saturday morning.

However, police noted that some ammunition was missing. While the rifles originally had a total of 90 bullets, only 10 were returned.

The handover came hours after gunmen, believed to be rogue members of a security agency in Somalia, allegedly carried out a deadly assault on Kenyan police officers at Border Point 4 in Mandera.

According to police reports, about 20 armed men ambushed five officers from the Border Police Unit on Friday, March 14.

During the attack, Constable Dennis Omari was shot and killed instantly, while another officer sustained a gunshot wound to the left arm.

The injured officer is receiving treatment at Mandera Referral Hospital and has since been airlifted to Nairobi for further medical care.

The attackers reportedly seized the slain officer’s G3 rifle, which held 60 bullets, and an AK47 rifle with 30 bullets before fleeing the scene.

Authorities suspect the attack may have been motivated by revenge.

According to preliminary investigations, the incident may be linked to the recent arrest of terror suspects allegedly involved in a failed abduction attempt targeting Chinese nationals working in Mandera.

Police believe the assault may have been coordinated by a relative of one of the arrested suspects, who is reportedly a officer at the agency.

Senior police officials have since visited the scene as part of ongoing investigations. Kenyan authorities have demanded the return of the firearms and the arrest of those responsible for the attack.

Shortly after these demands, Somali authorities informed their Kenyan counterparts that they had recovered the rifles and were prepared to return them.

However, the suspects believed to be behind the attack remain at large. Somalia’s military has reportedly launched a manhunt for those involved.

by CYRUS OMBATI

Tuesday 18,March  2025 {HMC} – Six months after opening a men’s clothing store in the Somali capital Mogadishu, Mohamed Omar Hussein is proud to manage the lives of his four siblings and mother. His new venture has transformed their circumstances, providing stability and hope.

Mohamed now ensures three meals a day, covers rent, and funds his brothers’ education through his clothing business. He opened the shop in Bakara market last September, earning a monthly profit of $500-$700.

“Thank God, after a few months, the shop became successful,” Mohamed said. “I made enough money to bring my family from the countryside to Daynile district in the capital Mogadishu. Now, I cover all our expenses from this business.”

Mohamed financed the shop with $8,000 that he had planned to use for migrating to Europe or the USA. He abandoned his migration plans after witnessing the struggles of others who had attempted such journeys.

“I saw many young people languishing in Libyan prisons. I realised that if I used the money for migration and it didn’t work out, I would have nothing left. That’s why I decided to start a business and invest what I had,” he told Radio Ergo.

The capital for his business came from selling a plot his mother owned in Buloburde, Hiran region, for $7,000, along with $1,000 saved from his electrical repair work.

Mohamed’s determination to support his family led him to this business venture. Electrical repair jobs produced insufficient income.

“This shop covers all our monthly expenses and more. I earn more than I expected, and it has improved our living circumstances tremendously.”

Mohamed pays for the education of his four siblings in high school, with a combined monthly fee of $85.

He now believes that investing in the country is the key to reducing migration driven by economic hardships.

“Migration is often seen as a solution to economic, social, and political problems. But I believe in creating opportunities within our country. Investing here can provide a better life for many,” he said.

Mohamed now educates other young people about the risks of migration and the benefits of investing locally.

“The only way to reduce migration is to create a better life here,” he said. “People shouldn’t feel the need to leave. We have the resources; we just need to invest in them.”

SOURCE