....we need to fight terrorism.....
As Uganda alerts of an infiltration by some ADF terrorists,let's us look at the grobal index of terrorism as shared by the Kenyan counter terrorism police.As it is stressed out,information about terrorists should not be classified information, it should get out to public, for the fight against terror must start with the civilian population.
Sub-Saharan Africa countries continue to bear the brunt of terrorism leading to deaths and affecting economies.
Terrorism thrives in countries with existing conflicts hence there is need to address conflict situations to guarantee peace and security.
Terrorism in all its manifestations remains a global threat that States need to work together to reduce its impact and harm to guarantee peace and security.
It's alarming that terrorist groups continue to kill innocent people, cause fear and pandemonium across the world.
Fighting terrorism requires States to collaborate by sharing information/intelligence, security agencies to conduct joint trainings, carry out joint counter terrorism operations, develop stringent counter terrorism laws and arrest/prosecute terrorists within their jurisdictions to act as deterrence to engaging in terrorism activities.
States, United Nations and other global institutions need also to firmly condemn States engaging in State sponsored terrorism.
Terrorism is a transnational crime that can be best dealt with through global partnership.
As a regional counter terrorism superpower, Kenya has been instrumental in providing leadership in the fight against terrorism in the region.
It remains Somalia's dependable partner in fighting AlShabaab, which is significantly degraded but still poses a threat in the region.
States need to support Somalia in fighting AlShabaab to make the region safe and secure.
Countries need to deploy human and material resources to fight terrorism to safeguard people and properties.
It's clear terror groups are our enemies that need to be fought on air, land and sea.
Terrorism is claiming many innocent people globally hence stakeholders need to do everything humanly possible to reverse the trend.
It's instructive to note that war against terrorism is too important to be left to governments alone.
Citizens remain first line of defense in war on terror by providing information to security agencies for action.
Attending Sunday's meeting in Mogadishu were the Minister of Defence, the Acting Minister of Internal Security, commanders of the military, police, and intelligence, the Attorney General, the Governor of Banadir Region and the Mayor of Mogadishu.The army commander provided a brief report on the country's security during the holy month of Ramadan, ongoing military operations, and the recent al-Shabab attack on the SYL hotel.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of security agencies being more vigilant and ensuring the safety of the nation, remaining alert to al-Shabab attacks aimed at endangering the Somali people's safety.
He also underscored the significance of eradicating the Al-Shabaab terrorists and enhancing cooperation between the army and the civilian population.
Three government soldiers were killed, and 27 others, including 18 civilians and three lawmakers, were wounded in the hours-long siege at the SYL Hotel, which is popular among government officials.
On Sunday, at least 18 of the most severely wounded people from Thursday's al-Shabab attack on the SYL hotel in Mogadishu were airlifted to Turkey for treatment.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is, reports have it, facing an M23 rebel grouping with high-tech armament at its disposal.
M23 is an abbreviation of the March 23 Movement (Mouvement du 23 mars in French) also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army and comprising mostly Tutsis. It is based in the eastern DRC and operates mainly in North Kivu province.
United Kingdom based defence and security information provider Jane’s earlier February reported “sophisticated guided mortar rounds” were being used against government FARDC (Forces ArmΓ©es de la RΓ©publique DΓ©mocratique du Congo) forces in North Kivu.
At the same time, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that the rebel group had “sophisticated weapons” including surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). One, suspected to be ex-Rwandan Defence Force (RDF), was fired at a UN (United Nations) “observation drone”, but did not hit it, the publication quotes a “confidential report” as stating. The unmanned aerial vehicle in question was a UN Falco EVO aircraft, which managed to capture footage of the missile launcher.
“External military intelligence from France supports assessment that the suspected WZ551 6×6 IFV mobile SAM system is Rwandan,” according to the report seen by AFP.
Two images attached to the report show a six-wheeled armoured vehicle with a roof-mounted radar and missile launcher system, indicating a Type 92 Yitian version of the WZ551 armoured personnel carrier.
The photos were taken by the targeted UAV about 70 km north of Goma, provincial capital of North Kivu in rebel-held Rutshuru territory.
The UN MONUSCO peacekeeping mission said in the document it had “no past reporting of known armed groups possessing the training, capital or resources to operate and maintain a mobile SAM system”. Use of the suspected WZ551 mobile SAM system, the report notes, “indicates an escalation of conventional force conflict in eastern DRC”.
M23 and “the Rwanda army”, according to the quoted document, have used “numerous weapons against aircraft and also have in their armoury anti-aircraft guns and MANPAD mobile air defence systems”.
Reporting on the “sophisticated guided mortar rounds,” Janes has it a DRC UN group of experts photographed “a previously undocumented 120 mm guide mortar round” found in Murambi last June.
“While the group of experts did not identify the mortar round, saying it was working to trace its origin, the report included a marketing image for the 120 mm Stylet round made by Israel’s Elbit Systems to illustrate what the munition would have looked like when undamaged.
“Elbit says the Stylet is a global positioning system (GPS) guided munition thatcan be launched from an unmodified mortar and hit targets with an accuracy of 10 circular error probable (CEP) out to a range of 9 km.
“The group of experts’ report included two other photographs showing the tail from a similar mortar round recovered after an attack on a FARDC camp in Kanyamahoro on 24 October 2023,” as per the Janes report.
The increasingly sophisticated array of weapons being used by rebel forces in the DRC pose a major threat to MONUSCO peacekeepers, who are to withdraw by year-end, and the new SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), which will have about 5 000 troops from South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi. South Africa has committed 2 900 troops to SAMIDRC, who will be deployed until 15 December 2024 at a cost of R2 billion. MONUSCO, by contrast, had some 15 000 troops at its disposal.
The report of the use of SAMs in the DRC came weeks after a SAAF Oryx on a MONUSCO medical evacuation mission was hit 43 times by small arms fire, on 2 February, injuring the aircraft commander and a medic in the cabin.
MNUSCO confirms that its camp in MUBAmbiro near Goma was targeted by an armed attack during today's clashes between the Armed Forces of the DRC and the rebels of m23
Death toll rises to 31 as per local hospitals, survivors and responders.
46 injured including six MPs, security people, commander of Haramcad police unit, several officials at the Banadir Regional Administration, the spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office and a journalist.
It took 17 hours to end the siege (from 21.41 pm Thursday to 3.00pm Friday). The siege was ended thanks to the support provided by the U.S-trained unit Gaashaan.
The attack targeted the hotel while clan politicians and government security/militia commanders were meeting. However, it's important to note that the hotel also serves as a residence for dozens of MPs and politicians.
Total Al-Shabaab attackers confirmed to be 7. Only 5 bodies were found - they were wearing civilian clothes. The two others are missing. The attackers were able to communicate to Al-Shabaab radio and broadcast live reporting from the hotel. Their audio voices were transmitted via Telegram channels.
The brand new Toyota vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) used for the first explosion also brought weapons for the attackers moments before they stormed the hotel perimeter. Security sources confirm the vehicle came through the Sayidka Junction security checkpoint. This is the main reason Hassan Mohamud was angry and decided to visit and see the CCTV monitoring room inside HSNQ NISA headquarters.
A second explosion took place in the middle of the attack but details are still shady. Both explosions also damaged nearby civilian buildings with possible casualties as the area is densely populated.
The SYL Hotel was one of the most heavily guarded buildings in Mogadishu. Not only is it situated in the vicinity of the presidential palace commonly known as Villa Somalia, but it also serves as a primary residence and central hub for government officials and security personnel, particularly those working within the presidency, the Office of the Prime Minister, Parliament, and officials at the district level in Mogadishu.
If you have not been to Mogadishu, you need to note that there are six different checkpoints surrounded to this small area.The check points are Sayidka, Shimbiraale, 15 May, Boondheere, Daljirka, and Ceelgaabta. All these checkpoints are strict and manned by heavily armed presidential guards plus NISA officers. Civilian cars without certain gov't IDs are not permitted at all. There have been numerous threat alerts against this hotel and others that have been well publicized months ago.The Thursday night's attack occurs amidst significant developments: the planned reshuffle of cabinet ministers and and removal of security officials, including Mahad Salad of HSNQ NISA. It's a common occurrence in Mogadishu that whenever someone feels their position is threatened, they resort to compromise and plot to derail proceedings.
The hotel siege in Mogadishu on Thursday requires thorough investigation, accountability for perpetrators and plotters, and justice for the victims. It's evident that the incident has both political and terror-related dimensions that need to be addressed.
However ,many say the figures of the victims are being over exaggerated by Gorvenment opposition.Some hours there were reports that one of the attackers was a worker to the parliament which was later blandished fake by a number investigators.
"One of the attackers of the SYL hotel that led to death of 31 and 46 others injured is an employee of the Somali Federal Parliament.
Only a thorough investigation into NISA and its terrorist infiltrators is require.
FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY
