Kenya Archives

Jihadi history: Kenyan detainee transferred out of Guantanamo shows the extent of Al Qaeda’s jihad in East Africa

Caleb Weiss | December 18, 2024

The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced yesterday that longtime Guantanamo Bay detainee Mohammed Abdul Malik Bajabu was transferred to his native Kenya. Bajabu’s history presents an interesting historical look into Al Qaeda’s early activities in East Africa, acting as a reminder that the African Jihad, currently the global hotspot of jihadist activity, has been decades in the making.

Analysis: Somali forces turn their weapons on each other

Caleb Weiss | December 12, 2024

On December 12, The Somali National Army (SNA) of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) in Mogadishu was routed from the southern Somali town of Ras Kamboni by the regional forces of Jubaland, a federal member state of Somalia. This conflict provides Shabaab, Al Qaeda’s branch for East Africa, an opportunity to consolidate and rebound from its previous losses.

Analysis: AQAP praises Shabaab’s activities in East Africa

Caleb Weiss | December 3, 2024

In the latest issue of its Sada al-Malahem magazine, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) heaped significant praise on recent operations conducted by Shabaab, Al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa. The article is another data point regarding the open support between these Al Qaeda branches.

New Jersey man arrested for attempting to join Shabaab, inspired by support of Hamas

Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss | December 29, 2023

The man reportedly traveled from Egypt to Kenya, where he planned to use Shabaab facilitators to cross into Somalia. The American citizen was motivated by his support of Hamas and desire to target the U.S. for its support of Israel.

State places $10 million bounty on Kenyan Shabaab commander

Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss | January 12, 2023

Mohamoud Abdi Aden is the second Kenyan-Somali the U.S. State Department has placed a $10 million bounty on in the last week. Shabaab now has five leaders with $10 million bounties, the most for any Sunni jihadist group.

U.S. offers $10 million bounty for top Shabaab military commander

Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss | January 6, 2023

The U.S. has now placed a $10 million bounty on Maalim Ayman, the leader of Shabaab’s military wing in Kenya. Maalim Ayman now joins the ranks of other high-profile Sunni jihadis around the world demanding a similar price tag.

US picks up pace of airstrikes in Somalia

Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss | August 17, 2022

Since resuming military activity inside Somalia earlier this year, the Biden Administration has ramped up the pace of airstrikes in the Horn of Africa country in recent weeks. Since June 3, the US has conducted at least six airstrikes against Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa.

Shabaab celebrates its assassinations in Mogadishu, jihadist attacks in the West

Caleb Weiss | May 3, 2022

Shabaab again highlights operations from its urban assassination unit in Mogadishu. In doing so, it places these killings in the context of the wider global jihad.

Shabaab mounts increased rate of attacks inside Kenya

Caleb Weiss | May 29, 2021

Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, continues to conduct a high operational tempo inside northeastern Kenya.

Kenyan governor claims Shabaab controls over half of northeastern Kenya

Caleb Weiss | January 16, 2021

The governor of Kenya’s Mandera County recently stated that Shabaab is controlling “over 50 percent’ of northern Kenya and “more than 60 percent” of Mandera. Kenyan authorities have quickly scrambled to contradict these claims.

Shabaab assassinates high-ranking military officials in central Somalia

Caleb Weiss | December 18, 2020

Shabaab killed several military officials in a suicide bombing today in Galkayo. This is just the latest in a renewed assassination campaign that has targeted a wide range of high profile Somali leaders this year.

Shabaab targets African Union, Kenyan troops in southern Somalia

Caleb Weiss | April 24, 2020

The Al Qaeda branch claims its men enacted “heavy losses” to AMISOM and Kenyan troops in southern Somalia. African Union troops and the Somali government have stated otherwise, however.

AFRICOM kills ‘foundational’ Shabaab leader in strike

Bill Roggio | April 7, 2020

AFRICOM has stepped up its air campaign against Shabaab since the beginning of the year, targeting the group 33 times.

AFRICOM kills Shabaab commander behind Manda Bay Airfield attack

Bill Roggio | February 26, 2020

U.S. Africa Command said it killed the Shabaab commander was “in charge of planning and directing terrorist operations” along the Kenyan border, including the raid on the Manda Bay Airfield. Three Americans were killed in that attack.

U.S. suffers casualties during Shabaab raid on Kenyan airfield

Thomas Joscelyn | January 5, 2020

One U.S. service member and two Defense Department contractors were killed during a raid by Shabaab on the Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya earlier today. U.S. AFRICOM accused the al-Qaeda arm of exaggerating the effects of its operation, which is true. But the jihadists still managed to infiltrate an airfield used by the U.S. and its allies to combat the group.

Shabaab assaults Kenyan airfield used by U.S. forces

Thomas Joscelyn | January 5, 2020

Shabaab, al-Qaeda’s regional branch in East Africa, assaulted the Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya earlier today. The extent of the damage is unclear, but at least some aircraft and equipment was set ablaze.

Shabaab says Nairobi attack carried out in accordance with Zawahiri’s guidelines

Thomas Joscelyn | January 16, 2019

Shabaab released a two-page statement saying the Jan. 15 attack at a hotel in Nairobi was conducted in accordance with Ayman al Zawahiri’s “guidelines.” The al Qaeda arm has other reasons for striking inside Kenya as well, including the government’s role in the guerrilla war in Somalia.

Shabaab claims assault in Kenyan capital

Caleb Weiss | January 15, 2019

The jihadist group continues to launch large-scale attacks inside Kenyan territory.

Shabaab attacks focus on Somali military, African Union forces

Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss | September 3, 2018

Shabaab has managed to launch 418 attacks of different types during the six-month timeframe in support of its persistent and ongoing insurgency against Somalia’s weak central government and allied African Union forces.

Shabaab claims deadly IED blast in Kenya

Caleb Weiss | August 9, 2018

Shabaab continues to claim deadly attacks on Kenyan Defense Forces inside Kenya despite military operations against it.

US amends terror designation of Shabaab to include Kenyan ‘wing’

Thomas Joscelyn | July 19, 2018

The State Department has amended the terrorist designation of Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, to include Al-Hijra, which has served as Shabaab’s “wing” in Kenya. In the past, according to the UN, Al-Hijra has played a key role in Shabaab’s planning of terrorist attacks.

Somali markets targeted in Shabaab explosions

Caleb Weiss | May 12, 2018

Two busy markets in southern Somalia were targeted by deadly explosions this week, which left at least 14 people dead and many others wounded.

Shabaab targets Somali, African Union troops in southern Somalia

Caleb Weiss | March 4, 2018

Shabaab has claimed a number of attacks in recent days across southern Somalia, including briefly recapturing the strategic town of Balad just north of Mogadishu.

Shabaab steps up attacks in Kenya

Caleb Weiss | June 6, 2017

Over the past three weeks, dozens of people in Kenya have been killed by Shabaab in assaults and improvised explosive device attacks.

Shabaab spokesman calls on Kenyan jihadists to form an ‘army’

Thomas Joscelyn | May 22, 2017

In a newly released video, Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali Mahmoud Rage addresses graduates of a training camp for foreign fighters. “Many” of the graduates are from Kenya and, Rage says, they should form an “army that will conquer Kenya so that we may return to our families and relatives in a state of honor and glory.”

Kenyan soldier held hostage since Jan. 2016 appears in Shabaab video

Thomas Joscelyn | May 18, 2017

Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in Somalia, has released a video of a Kenyan soldier who was captured during a Jan. 15, 2016 raid on an AMISOM base in El Adde. The UN found that approximately 150 Kenyan soldiers were killed in the attack and another 11 were taken hostage. The jihadists’ attack in El Adde was “the largest military defeat in Kenyan history,” according to the UN.