Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is asking for an urgent international medical assistance after Islamist militants belonging to al-Shabaab (“The Youth”) terrorist organisation detonated twin car bombs on Saturday 29 October, killing over 100 and wounding more than 300 bystanders. Some of the victims included mothers with children in their arms. The main target of the latest terror strike was the Ministry of Education, but the second bomb detonated as medical personnel arrived to assist the victims. Five years ago, the same road junction was targeted in a terror strike which killed more than 500 people in the deadliest terror attack in Somalia’s recent history.
Saturday’s attack was al-Shabaab’s third terror strike in Somalia this month, following hotel attacks in Kismayo and a triple bombing in Beledweyne town.
The U.S., Germany, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia condemned the latest terror strike, pledging support to the Somalian government in their fifteen-year struggle against al-Shabaab. The Somali President, in power since May but who has previously served from 2012 to 2017, has reiterated his declaration of a “total war” against the militants. In his official statement on Twitter, President Sheikh Mohamud said: “Our government and brave people will continue to defend Somalia against evil.”
The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has condemned “in the strongest terms the horrific terrorist attack”. In March 2022, al-Shabaab attacked the African Union Mission in Somalia, killing at least 170 soldiers and capturing an unidentified number of prisoners of war—mostly soldiers from Burundi. The United Nations Security Council authorized with Resolution 2628 the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) (in force since 1 April 2022) to “pursue a holistic approach” in assisting the Somalian Government to enhance peace and security–including through a multidimensional mission (military, police and civilian).
In Kenya, where Australia has an embassy that also covers Somalia in a non-resident capacity, al-Shabaab has targeted many towns and villages as retribution for Kenya’s support for the Somali government—and has warned of more attacks as recently as in August this year. Al-Shabaab remains one of the most active and deadly terrorist organizations in the Horn of Africa whose murderous actions have claimed thousands of innocent lives over the years. U.S. President Jo Biden recently redeployed 450 American troops to Somalia, reversing previous President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops in January 2021 from the troubled African nation.
The latest terror strike might deepen further Washington’s involvement in Somalia’s counterterrorism efforts, with the Somali government’s request to increase military drone strikes against al-Shabaab.
Cash incentives for militant deaths
Last week in the port city of Kismayo, Al-Qaeda affiliates attacked Tawakal hotel which was regularly attended by local prominent business owners and elders. The Somali government previously warned that Al-Shabaab might target the venue. Eleven people were killed and at least 47 injured, including many students attending a nearby school.
The Tawakal Hotel siege was the second longest since Hotel Hayat was attacked by unidentified gunmen in the capital Mogadishu in August this year, killing at least 30. In late August, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud “announced that his government will launch a “total war” against al-Qaida-affiliated militant group al-Shabab” to fulfill an election promise. Al-Shabab’s leader Abu Ubaidah vowed to fight the government forces back.
The U.S. forces killed his expected successor, al-Shabaab’s senior leader Abdullahi Nadir on 1 October in a joint drone airstrike. Since 2012, the U.S. Government had a bounty of US$3 million (AUD$4.7 million) for Nadir’s capture. Following this operation, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken designated “five al-Shabaab leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224”.
The Somali government’s efforts to build a coalition force against Al-Shabaab involve local militia groups in tackling the terrorist threat across the country. In Central Somalia, regional authorities gave cash incentives to the locals as a reward for ambushing and killing the suspected Islamist militants.
Australia’s al-Shabaab terrorist designation
Australia first listed Al-Shabaab as a terrorist organization under the Criminal Code on 22 August 2009. It has regularly reviewed the terrorist group’s designation every three years, with the most recent renewal occurring in August 2021.
According to the Australian Government, al-Shabaab is “an officially recognised affiliate of al-Qa’ida, adhering to al-Qa’ida’s global anti-Western jihadist narrative… between January 2009 and 2011, al-Shabaab controlled the majority of Somalia. In 2011, al-Shabaab was forced from Mogadishu and much of southern and central Somalia through renewed military intervention by both Kenyan and Ethiopian forces.”
Australia’s current travel advice for Somalia is “do not travel”, and the risk of kidnapping and terror attacks is very high.
Over the past decade, Australia has provided humanitarian aid to Somalia through international agencies and supported state-building and counter-terrorism efforts led by the United Nations and the African Union. Australia is also home to a small but close-knit Somali community, which has been for years battling radicalisation amongst its ranks.
Amid what is increasingly looking like an asymmetrical warfare between the Somali government and al-Shabaab, refugees from Somalia are likely to continue to prominently feature in the UN Refugee Agency’s (UNHCR) resettlement programs, from which Australia selects refugees for its annual refugee and humanitarian intake program.