somali national army killed more than 30 terrorists, including three of the group’s ringleaders, namely; Maadey Madobe, Hamali Kalombe, and Mukhtaar Gabigoor.

The Somali government has announced the successful takeover of Hawadley, a strategic area in Middle Shabelle, by security forces following a special operation aimed at weeding out Al-Shabaab from the region.

A statement by the Somali government said the army, with support from local milita, killed more than 30 terrorists, including three of the group’s ringleaders, namely; Maadey Madobe, Hamali Kalombe, and Mukhtaar Gabigoor.

The statement added that some terrorists were killed while trying to escape in their vehicles.

The government has termed Haladey, a town about 30 km away from Balcad city, and 40kms north of Mogadishu, an important supply route through which the terrorists used to cross from the Lower Shabelle and Middle Shabelle regions and where they would converge to plan terrorist activities against the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

Somali government has warned it will revoke licenses and close down businesses or companies which transfer money or make any payments to the Al-Shabaab terrorist group.

The Ministry of Trade and Commerce said today it will take action against businesses that aid Al-Shabaab activities by providing them with funds.

The Ministry added that it will confiscate the property of companies known to be owned or have representatives from Al-Shabaab.

The directive follows President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s announcement in July that the government will also target Al-Shabaab financing to cut off its lifeline. Al-Shabaab finances its activities mostly through forced ‘taxation’ of traders and transporters.

A report by Mogadishu-based security think tank, Hiraal Institute in 2020 indicated that Al-Shabaab collects up to $11 million per month with more than half of this coming from the capital Mogadishu.

The think tank also said in a recent report that the militant group spent $24 million on weapons acquisition in 2021.

The directive comes a day after Somalia marked six years since the October 17, 2017 truck bombing that killed about 600 people and maimed over 100 others in Mogadishu’s Zobe junction.

Al-Shabaab has claimed credit for storming and overrunning two Somali National Army (SNA) camps in Yasooman and Beera-Yabaal in Bulo-Burte, Hiraan, central Somalia.

 The Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab in Somalia continue to scale-up attacks in central and southern Somalia. In one of the latest attacks, Al-Shabaab has claimed credit for storming and overrunning two Somali National Army (SNA) camps in Yasooman and Beera-Yabaal in Bulo-Burte, Hiraan, central Somalia.

The Islamist terrorist group issued a statement through its operations spokesman Abu Mus’ab claiming killing to have killed more than 117 SNA troops besides capturing trucks and weapons.

However, SNA has disputed that their military bases were overrun as the Al-Shabaab media outlets/channels saying their troops managed to repel the attacks and causing significant blows to the terrorists.

Odowaa Yusuf Rage, Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) confirmed of the deadly dawn attacks at SNA bases located Yasooman and Beera-Yabaal villages of Hiraan. He reiterated that SNA forces managed to repel and defeat the terrorists, killings about 50 of them.

Hiraan prefecture of central Somalia has witnessed surge in Al-Shabaab attacks prompting even locals joining counterterrorism operations in a number of villages that have been under the control of the terrorists. With support from ATMIS, the Somali Security Forces are protecting civilians in the recently liberated areas and are securing critical infrastructure including roads and water sources.

The SNA-CDF said the ongoing military operations will be intensified in the area to flush out all the terrorists who have been staging terror attacks in the region.

Major Military Offensive against al-Shabaab begins in Middle Shabelle

 

The Somali Government has launched a major military offensive in Middle Shabelle targeting the militant group al-Shabaab which controls many rural parts of the region. 

The Federal Government has sent more troops to the area to boost ongoing military operations conducted by the Somali National Army. 

More officers of the Somali National Army (SNA) have been taken to Raga Elle, Adan Yabaal and Addale to top up the contingent of soldiers already in the region.

Senior leaders of the region, legislatures and interested community elders have also joined the frontlines in pursuit of the militants. 

More troops are scheduled to arrive in Middle Shabelle as the war against al-Shabab intensifies. 

The group retaliated, conducting coordinated attacks across the country following the renewed fight by the Somali Government. 

On Friday,a top Somali police official and several of his guards were killed in a roadside bomb blast near the southern town of Balad.

The attack involved a landmine that targeted Mogadishu Police Commissioner Farhan Mohamoud Adan, better known as “Qarole,” near the Balad district, 35 kilometers north of Mogadishu.

On Monday, at least 30 people were killed and 36 others wounded in Beledweyne in the explosions of three car bombs.

The first car bomb struck the gate of Lama Galay, while another lorry loaded with explosives gained entry inside the compound, exploding right at the Centre.

A third car loaded with explosives targeted first responders at the scene, making the attack one of the deadliest in the town.

The group has recently been receiving heavy military offensive operations with the Somali government announcing the killing of a top Al-Shabaab operative in an air strike on Saturday. Abdullahi Yare, who had a $3.0-million bounty on his head, was killed in a joint air strike on Saturday by the Somali army and the US Africa Command.

Al-Shabaab has waged a war against the Somali Government for close to 15 years. The group was removed from Mogadishu in 2011 but still control many rural parts of central and Southern Somalia. 

Wanted Senior Al-Shabaab Leader & Co-Founder Abdullahi Nadir Killed in an Airstrike in Haramka Village, Middle Juba

 

The latest US airstrike that was conducted on October 1. in support of the Somali National Army (SNA) confirmed to have killed a top leader and a co-founder of the Al-Shabaab extremist group.

In coordination with partner forces, US conducted the airstrike targeting Al-Shabaab network in the vicinity of Jilib, the extremist’s group headquarter, Middle Juba, about 370 kilometers from the capital Mogadishu.

US Africa Command initial assessment indicated that the strike killed an Al-Shabaab leader and no civilians were killed or injured in the operation.

Further reports now indicate that Al-Shabaab leader and co-founder of the group, Abdullahi Nadir was killed in this airstrike in Haramka village of Middle Juba region, southern Somalia.

Abdullahi Nadir had a $3 million bounty on his head by the United States and the Somali government described him as one of the most resourceful members of Al-Shabaab. He had been close to the former emir of Al-Shabaab, Ahmed Abdi Godane, and current leader Ahmed Abu Diriye.

The President of Somalia in a recent address vowed to fight the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab that continue to tax, extort residents, business people and travelers. While Somali security forces say they have made gains on the battlefield in recent weeks while fighting alongside local self-defense groups, its notable of the group’s surge besides strengthened capability, conducting deadly raids over the past few weeks, burning houses, destroying wells and beheading civilians in parts of central and southern Somalia.

Morocco Buys Chinese Wing Loong II Military Drones

 

The Royal Moroccan Army has finalized the acquisition of military drones from China in a continued effort to arm and bolster its air defense capabilities.

Moroccan has procured Wing Loong II medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) among other military systems.

Wing Loong II drones are developed by Chinese Chengdu Aircraft Design & Research Institute, originally intended to bolster surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

However, Wing Loong II has been fitted with notable capabilities such as an air-to-ground attack capability besides enhanced to fly for a maximum of 20 hours.

Also, armed with turbocharged engine that allows the Wing Loong II drone to have a maximum speed of 370 kilometers (229 miles) per hour.

Sources within the Royal Moroccan Military report that the Wing Loong II UAVs expected replace an older type of Chinese drone in the country’s military inventory.

Morocco has increased interest in procuring military drones. The country has been investing huge amounts of money for its military modernization program aimed at countering future threats.

 Photo/COURTESY: Bluebird Aero Systems

Last month, Morocco procured 150 drones from Israeli firm BlueBird Aero Systems for reconnaissance, surveillance, air defense, and emergency missions.

The EAC Starts Deployment Of Regional Troops To DRC With Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) Expected In Bunagana, Near The Border With Uganda

 

DRC President Félix Tshisekedi has announced that his country is preparing to receive the East African Community (EAC) regional force that is set to be deployed in the eastern region to aid in the fight against Jihadis and rebels. According to Tshisekedi the Kenyan contingent is expected to deploy and had been dispatching their logistical support systems during the last week of September.

The regional force is expected to be deployed in the Ituri, North, and South Kivu Provinces where the rebels are active and have caused the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent civilians. The Kenyan contingent will be the second after Burundian troops that deployed into South Kivu in August.

According to preliminary intelligence, the aforementioned Kenyan contingent is projected to be in charge of a hot zone in Bunagana, near the border with Uganda. The area has been under the M23 rebels since June 14 in the group’s renewed fighting.

The regional forces are expected to be made up of contingents from Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Burundi, and Tanzania. At this moment, while Rwanda is a member of the EAC, there have been tensions between her and DRC in which Kinshasa has accused Kigali of supporting M23 rebels, allegations that Rwanda denies.

While the deployment of a regional force has been lauded especially due to the growing threat from ISCAP, all eyes will be on the force as people wait with batted breath to see if they will redeem the military presence. The public sentiment on military intervention has been very negative as the civilians have been protesting the presence of the UN peacekeepers. Therefore, while they will be fighting rebels and terrorists they are expected to work towards winning the civilians who are very fundamental in aiding in identifying and flashing out rebels, terrorists as well as their supporters and sympathizers.

  A huge explosion went off this morning in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, hardly a day after another blast brought down a hotel hosting government officials in Jowhar, Hir-Shabelle state.

The explosion, which reverberated across several neighbourhoods in Banadir region, took place in Ali-kamin neighbourhood of Warta-Nabada district in Banadir region.

Initial reports indicate that the explosion targeted ATMIS troops who were travelling along the Ali Kamin intersection in the Wartanabad district of Banadir region.

Eyewitnesses said a remote controlled landmine hit one of the army’s vehicles resulting in casualties, although no independent body has yet confirmed the claims.

The AU troops are said to have responded with an artillery of fire immediately the explosion went off and later proceeded with their journey after calm was restored. 

.In a similar news, The Somali Federal government on Sunday evening airlifted some of the victims who were wounded in the Jowhar bomb attack to Mogadishu for further medical treatment.

A Somali government delegation led by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Khadija Mohamed Diriye was at standby to receive the victims at the Aden Abdullahi airport.

According to the region’s State president Ali Gudlawe, three people, a soldier and two civilians were killed and 7 others including two regional ministers were wounded in the Sunday terror attack.

HirShabelle spokesperson, Da’ud Haji Irro said that the regional Minister of Women and Health was among those wounded in yesterday’s explosion.

A truck loaded with explosives was driven into a hotel known as Nur Dob, usually frequented by Hirshabelle State government officials.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they had targeted the hotel where the region’s senior officials were staying.

Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Brief for East and Central Africa (Somalia, Mozambique, DR-Congo, Tanzania, Uganda): Tracking Islamic State Terrorists In June 2022

 

INCIDENT REPORT

MOZAMBIQUE

• 30^th June- A Christian was attacked and killed by militants in Namuka village in the Ancuabe district.
• 29^th June- Militants attacked and took temporary control of a military base in Mandiba, Nangade district where they later released photos of weapons and ammo seized during the assault.
• 28^th June- jihadists attacked Nakosa village in Ancuabe district where at least one person was killed.
• 28^th June- militants attacked a bus in Mocimboa da Praia where they killed and wounded seven people.
• 28^th June-Christians were attacked and their homes burned in Kisanga Village, Kisanga area.
• 26^th June- several Christians were injured after militants attacked and burned their homes in Tandako Village, Macomia.
• 25^th June- militants ambushed a passenger bus traveling on Palma-Mueda road near Njama village in MDP.
• 24^th June- ISM attacked and burned houses in Nambini village, Macomia.
• 24^th June- 1 Christian was beheaded and homes burned after terrorists attacked Machicame village in Ancuabe district.
• 24^th June- Mahecane village in Ancuabe was attacked by militants who terrorized the residents and burned several houses.
• 23^rd June- Civilians in Nkoe Village, Macomia fled after an attack by ISM militants who burned houses and a church.
• 22^nd June- militants attacked and burned homes of Christians in Cvana village in Ancuabe
• 22^nd June- militants attacked and captured two people and burned their motorcycles on the road to Nkoe village in Macomia.
• 20^th June- a Mozambican military barracks in Mombi Jo village in Nangade was attacked, and weapons and ammo were seized.
• 21^st June- militants attacked and burned down houses in Nagera village which is located between Metuge and Mecufi regions.
• 18^th June- several people were beheaded and two churches burned down in an attack in the Gangolo village near Nangade.
• 19^th June- 2 Christians were beheaded and two churches burned down in Mancaya village in the Ancuabe district.
• 18^th June- at least 5 people were beheaded and homes razed in Mangelio village near Muidumbe district.
• 18^th June- 1 person was killed and homes razed, and a church burned after militants attacked Nanoa village in Ancuabe.
• 18^th June- militants attacked Christians in the village of Niquita, Ancuabe district
• 17^th June- ISM militants attacked Lurio village in the Memba region of Nampula Province.
• 16^th June- 4 people were beheaded by militants and bodies were left on the road in Malamba village in Nangade.
• 15^th June- IS-MOZ attacked Mieze town in the Pemba district as the group continues to advance south.
• 14^th June- 2 Christians were beheaded and a church burned to the ground after militants attacked Mankani and Mikolini villages in the Shior Area.
• 13^th June- two Christian men were captured and beheaded in Nipataku village in Ancuabe district by IS-MOZ terrorists.
• 13^th June- IS-MOZ claimed an attack in the Chiúre district where they are said to have killed 2 people and 70 houses.
• 10^th June- a Mozambican military patrol was attacked by militants armed with automatic weapons; two soldiers were killed and several others were wounded. The militants made away with weapons and ammo.
• 9^th June- insurgents appeared at the village of Ntutupue, about 55 km west of Pemba, where local sources report that they encountered two civilians, beheaded one, and instructed the other to report what had happened.
• 9^th June- a Christian village was attacked where militants massacred two people and burned 20 of their houses. The attack occurred in the village of Namilombe, in the Macomia district.
• 9^th June– insurgents and security forces clashed outside Quinto Congresso where two soldiers were killed and several others injured and weapons and ammo seized.
• 8^th June- militants attacked Grafex company, a graphite factory in Silava Macua, Ancuabe district. They beheaded two guards at the company.
• 7^th June- civilians were forced to flee after militants attacked and burned houses in Chai in Macomia.
• 5^th June- many homes were burned to the ground after militants attacked Nandoli village as the group appears to have extended its operations in the Ancuabe district of CD.
• 1^ST June- Jihadists ambushed a dried fish truck, and kidnapped and murdered several passengers, in Inidade, Mocímboa da Praia, Cabo Delgado.

TANZANIA

• 22^nd June- Militants reportedly attacked Chiumo village in the Mtwara region.
• 19^th June- 4 people were killed, and several houses were razed in Michenjele village in the Mtwara region.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

• 30^th June- 5 people were killed and 6 motorbikes burned after militants attacked a group of Christians with machine guns in Kiyala Village along the Beni-Kasindi road.
• 29^th June- a Congolese soldier was assassinated and his weapon stolen in Visiki village in Southwest Beni.
• 27^th June- ISCAP militants attacked and executed civilians in 4 villages; Manzumbu, Mamove, Babila, and Babombi villages in Beni.
• 27^th June- 7 people were killed, and homes burned in an attack in Mabo village in Beni.
• 26^th June- 6 people were killed and houses burned following an attack in the Kisima area in Beni.
• 26^th June- militants attacked Bakasi village, Beni killing seven people and burning several homes.
• 25^th June- 10 killed and 3 others injured in an ISCAP attack in Sambuku village in Beni.
• 25^th June- militants killed a Congolese army officer with automatic weapons on the road between Kilia and Bweriri in the Ronsuri area in Beni.
• 22^nd June- ISCAP militants targeted Christians with automatic weapons, killing a Congolese policeman and burning 4 houses in the Mabasele area, located west of Oicha City, Beni.
• 22^nd June- 2 people were killed, houses and vehicles burned and shops were robbed in Mabasele in Oicha city, Beni.
• 22^nd June- a vehicle convoy was ambushed in Makisabo village along the Beni-Kasindi road; 5 people were killed and 4 cars burned.
• 18^th June- 2 people were killed and 6 others wounded after an ISCAP cell attacked a passenger bus on Nyamabage-Rusizi road.
• 15^th June- 2 people were killed and at least 20 houses burned by militants in Mambelenga village in Walese Vonkutu, Ituri.
• 15^th June- two people were killed and several homes burned in an attack in Mamiki near Oicha city in Beni.
• 14^th June- a Congolese soldier was killed and his weapon seized following an attack by ISCAP in Tinambo village near Oicha in Beni.
• 13th June- ISCAP DR-Congo attacked a FARDC Camp at Makembe in northern Kivu in the area bordering Uganda.
• 12^th June- at least 10 people were brutally killed with machine guns and 8 motorcycles burned in an attack in Urouro and Opira villages, in the locality of Mayimoya, the territory of Beni.
• 8^th June- A Ugandan Army foot patrol was targeted by ISCAP militants with machine guns in Kenya Mbhuli Village, in the Rwenzori sector, Beni. Several of the soldiers were killed and wounded in the attack.
• 5^th June- At least 20 people were massacred and their houses razed to the ground by ISCAP jihadists in the village of Bwanasura in Otomabere in the territory of Irumu in Ituri Province.
• 4^th June- a Congolese military barracks in Erengeti, Beni was attacked by militants; a rocket launcher, a mortar, and ammunition were seized. The militants also burned the barracks.
• 1^st June- 3 people were killed and 5 houses burned in an ISCAP attack in Kabalwa village in the Rwenzori sector.

SOMALIA

• 3^rd June- a police checkpoint was attacked with a hand grenade in Hilwa, Mogadishu. One person was injured in the attack.

ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION

MOZAMBIQUE

In Mozambique, attacks appear to indicate that the insurgents are working towards capturing southern territory and closer to Pemba. Pemba has long been considered to be a haven in the province, but the recent bout of armed incursions in surrounding towns and villages has changed the risk status of Pemba. The militants have been moving in smaller cells that are mostly used for stealth operations which often include killings, looting, and arson before retreating to the forest. The recent attacks and propaganda images come as intelligence indicates that the militants have been establishing bases in the forest between Meluco and Macomia districts.

Additionally, contrary to the information released by Mozambique’s official channels, HUMINT indicates that the group is well prepared, with supplies and numbers, and appears to be gearing itself to advance further south into Pemba. Pemba is the main command and logistical hub SAMIM. While the militants appear to be headed south it is crucial to note that with the attention of the allied troops scattered, areas in the north and central that have been liberated from the militants are left vulnerable to resurgence and reoccupation by the militants.

The terror organization which was recently rebranded to Islamic State Mozambique (IS-MOZ) has been making waves with an increased number of attacks across most of the districts in Cabo Delgado. As evidenced by the incident reports herein, the number of attacks has increased with the majority of the attacks being on Christian targets, churches as well as arson attacks on the villages. While on the surface it appears that the militancy is expanding its territory, it is a strategic move by the newly minted IS-MOZ to stretch thin the already inadequate security resources in the province.

In late June Mozambican authorities in Sofala arrested and detained for questioning five individuals; three Somalis and two Kenyans on suspicion of having links to the insurgency in Cabo Delgado. The arrests come as the insurgency is believed to be receiving recruits from across the East African region as reinforcements. Intelligence indicated that in June when the resurgence of IS-MOZ began the militancy was expecting reinforcement from Kenya and DRC and crossing into CD through Mtwara.

In June, Islamic State-MOZ claimed the first attack in Nampula Province which occurred in Mithope village in Memba where at least a dozen militants attacked and looted before retreating. The group tends to conduct such attacks when establishing new territories and as such the attacks are both logistical as well as tactical to test the security forces while at the same time instilling fear among the residents.

It appears that IS-MOZ is working overtime to rebrand as an independent Mozambique province since it has been part of the Central African province. It has been seeking to claim headlines and has received praises from ISIS-Central. It is especially observed in the brutal pictures of attacks in the past few weeks which have heightened the threat by the group and continue to spread fear not only in Cabo Delgado but also in neighboring provinces.

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DRC

Intelligence indicates that the increasing attacks in Ituri are being launched and coordinated from new bases that have since been erected in Monge hill and other strongholds in several villages in Walese Vonkutu chiefdom. ISCAP has set up new positions in the western part in Mutueyi, Kasoko, Akwekwe, Ntume, and Monge on the hill of Butani called Madina 2″.

Tensions continue to rise between Rwanda and DRC as Kinshasa accuses Kigali of deploying at least 500 troops on its soil. The accusation comes amid a sharp deterioration of relations between the countries over the recent resurgence of the M23 militia in the DRC’s volatile east.

MONUSCO provided technical and scientific police in Beni, North Kivu, with equipment to prevent bomb attacks in the city. They include 40 telescopic mirrors for the search and inspection of vehicles but also a hundred portable metal detectors that will aid in the fight against ISCAP.

The East Africa Community (EAC) passed the decision to deploy a Kenya-led regional force to the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo in order to restore peace and stabilize the region. Intelligence Analysts maintain that while the regional force is necessary especially as ISCAP and M23 seem to have resurged, the tensions between DRC and Rwanda could hinder the success of the force. Additionally, in recent years the discontentment of the civilians in North Kivu and Ituri is at an all-time high, and as such a military solution that is not backed by political, social, and reconciliation strategies will almost certainly fail.