Kenyan troops “hid in the grass” during al-Shabaab’s January 5 attack on the Camp Simba airstrip, providing fresh doubt about the capability of the military to respond quickly and capably to high-profile terrorist attacks. Via NYTimes: “Surprised by the attack, American… Read More ›

Kenya
Weekend Note: Al-Shabaab and Kenya’s Tit-for-Tat Destruction of Telecom Infrastructure
The war between Kenya and al-Shabaab is not just being waged on remote bases like Camp Simba, highways, and city streets. It is taking a toll on telecom infrastructure as well. Via Reuters this past week: “Four Kenyan school children… Read More ›
New Data: Main Factors Preventing Dadaab Refugee Return to Somalia
Analysis of new data shows that a range of factors will prevent any prospect of mass returns from Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp, including: [1] an unwillingness of refugees to return, [2] Kenya’s withdrawal of forces to the border, and [3]… Read More ›
Around the Horn: Dadaab’s Decline, Kenyan Political Violence, and More
This month, UNHCR is reporting that more than 70,200 Somali refugees have been repatriated from Dadaab, and over 17,400 are registered as “willing to return” to Somalia. An interesting note in the report was that returns to Baidoa had been “suspended… Read More ›
Interactive Map: Post-election death toll at least 26 in Kenya
Below is an interactive map that traces dozens of the post-election deaths in Kenya among protesters and alleged looters, as well as several local incidents of voter fraud. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announcement of incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta’s… Read More ›
Kenya Election Round-Up: Historic Results, Protests, and Anomalies
The tallying of votes after national elections in Kenya has kicked off, and the Kenyan Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is posting updates live on its website. Local media outlets are providing breathless coverage, as well explanations of how the… Read More ›
Kenya Fails to Apply Lessons Learned from Last Al-Shabaab Mass Raid
In the aftermath of al-Shabaab’s latest mass raid attack against Kenyan troops, the government showed it had not effectively applied lessons learned from the January 2016 El Adde attack where over 140 soldiers were thought to have been killed. At around 5 AM last… Read More ›
Does the Kenyan FM’s Call for Self-Determination Translate to Support for Somaliland?
Kenyan Foreign Minister (FM) Amina Mohamed has advocated for self-determination for the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic’s (SADR) as part of her campaign for chairperson of the African Union (AU) commission, raising the issue of whether she would also push for self-determination… Read More ›
Methodology or Misinformation: What’s Driving Dadaab Refugee Camp Numbers Down?
The population at Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp has plummeted by 60,000 people in the last two months, according to data provided by UNHCR, begging the question — what are the factors driving such a drastic reduction in the population could… Read More ›
Video, Transcript, and Highlights of Kenya and Somalia’s Maritime Border Battle in Court
On Monday, Kenya’s legal team kicked off arguments at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to determine whether the court will have jurisdiction in the case involving the disputed maritime boundary with Somalia. The Somali government has requested the ICJ adjudicate the matter, while… Read More ›
Analysis: Dadaab Refugees Stopped on Return to Somalia, Raising Repatriation Questions
On Monday, Jubaland regional authorities in Somalia stopped a convoy of refugees from transiting to their destination due to a lack of humanitarian assistance to support their return, raising further questions of how refugees can leave Kenya’s Dadaab camp safely and sustainably. VOA has the latest:… Read More ›
Can Kenya Make Electoral Reforms Without Violence?
Since late April, Kenya’s opposition has staged weekly protests across the country against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), whose leadership has been fighting off credibility concerns for years. At least three people allegedly have been shot dead by police in… Read More ›
UNHCR Plans for 125,000 Refugee Returns to Somalia by End of 2017
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has released the Kenya Comprehensive Refugee Programme 2016, which comes off the heels of the Kenyan government’s intention to close the largest refugee camp in the world at Dadaab. The objective of the document is to… Read More ›