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 ›
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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 ›
A Look at the Numbers: When Can Kenya Close Dadaab Refugee Camp?
The Kenyan government continues to step up claims that it intends to close Dadaab refugee camp and repatriate or resettle around 348,000 refugees due to the “heavy economic, security and environmental burden and Kenya’s national security interest.” Refugees continue to… Read More ›
EU Says It Cut AMISOM Funding Due to Competing Priorities
In a 27 April press statement, the European Union (EU) stated it cut salaries to AMISOM by 20% due to “competing priorities in Africa and the world in general” but relayed its intent to continue supporting the mission’s efforts against al-Shabaab. As indicated… Read More ›
Kenya Reaches ‘Deal’ with Somali Clan Leaders on Border Security
Kenya is attempting to address key border issues with Somalia after al-Shabaab’s mass raid attack at El Adde this past January. This week, Kenyan Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery reached a cooperation agreement in Nairobi with a group of Marehan clan members, including ex-Somali prime… Read More ›
PHOTOS: Investigators Probe Al-Shabaab’s Beledweyne Airport Blast
Newly released photos show investigators probing the equipment used in al-Shabaab’s most recent laptop bomb attack at Beledweyne airport on Monday. The pictures of the investigation show scattered wires on top of plastic bag, as well as a bombed out vehicle… Read More ›
Al-Shabaab and AMISOM Continue Competition for Hearts and Minds
Since February, al-Shabaab and AMISOM have continued their competition for the hearts and minds of Somali communities. Al-Shabaab appears to be using a lull in AMISOM offensive operations to pursue its own charm offensive, especially in Lower Shabelle and Middle… Read More ›
MEDIA ROUNDUP: Somalia Election Talks Fail, Details on El Adde Attack, and More
KISMAYO TALKS FAIL: At a recent summit, Somali leaders failed to reach a consensus on an election format for the next parliament, whose MPs are to elect a president later this year. New UN Envoy Michael Keating, who just arrived in Mogadishu,… Read More ›
LISTEN: Al-Shabaab Release Audio of Kenyan Military Hostages
Al-Shabaab released audio from two Kenyan soldiers who were taken hostage during the attack on AMISOM’s base in El Adde last Friday. The Star newspaper claims that al-Shabaab are holding 10 other Kenyan soldiers hostage. The hostages only describe details of the… Read More ›
Al-Shabaab’s Nabhan Brigade Resurfaces and Raids AMISOM Base in Somalia
In the early morning of 15 January, “several hundred” al-Shabaab militants overran an AMISOM base in El Adde, about 30mi southwest of Garbahaarey in Somalia’s Gedo region. Al-Shabaab claimed the Saleh Nabhan brigade carried out the operation. The brigade was created… Read More ›
Senior American Military Officials Comment on Al-Shabaab and ISIS
Al-Shabaab’s strength and ability is weakening, but the group remains the biggest threat in the region, according to a senior American military official for east Africa. The threat of ISIS is also believed to have grown since 2014, according to a Marine… Read More ›
Kenya’s Contrasting Responses to Border Conflict with Ethiopia and Somalia
Last Friday, Ethiopian forces killed three Kenyan police officers and a village chief during a cross-border attack in pursuit of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) rebels. Kenya’s Daily Nation noted Ethiopian forces have carried out at least five often deadly incursions… Read More ›
Kenya Files Argument in Court Over Maritime Border Dispute with Somalia
This week, Kenya submitted filings to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on why the court should not yet hear its maritime border case with the Somali government. Kenya, which has already awarded exploration blocks in the disputed territory, wants… Read More ›