Kenya: Militants carry out two attacks in Mandera county May 15-16

Event

Al-Shabaab is suspected of carrying out two attacks in Mandera county on Monday, May 15, and Tuesday, May 16. Gunmen attacked a village near Mandera Town on Monday, killing the local police chief and abducting two Kenya Reserve Police (KPR) officers. The following day, at least four people died after an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near the town of Liboi, located about 60 km (37 mi) from the Dabaab refugee camp.

Context

The Dabaab camp is one of the world’s largest refugee camps and hosts mainly Somali refugees. In March, officials extended a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Mandera county by three months, taking effect from March 28 until June 28, 2017. Under the curfew, people are required to remain indoors between 19:00 and 05:00 (local times). The towns affected by the curfew include Mandera Town, Omar Jillo, Arabia, Fino, Lafey Kotulo, and Elwak, as well as environs extending to 20 km (12.4 mi) from the Kenya-Somalia border.

Al-Shabaab attacks have often targeted the Kenya’s northeast, near the porous border with Somalia, as well as coastal areas popular with tourists and the capital city of Nairobi. The militant group has been effectively at war with the country since Kenyan forces engaged in the international fight against the terrorist group beginning in October 2011.

Advice

Due to these and other security concerns, many Western governments advise against travel to a number of regions in the country, including areas bordering Somalia (parts of Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and Lamu counties), Ethiopia, and South Sudan, as well as nonessential travel to the city of Mombasa. Several Nairobi neighborhoods, including Eastleigh and Pangani, are also best avoided.Individuals present in Mandera County are advised to remain vigilant and to adhere to instructions issued by the government, including all curfew orders. Report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities, and be particularly cautious when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (government buildings, places of worship, tourist sites, etc.).