REPORT: Somalia security remains volatile with 1,086 attacks recorded in four months

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REPORT: Somalia security remains volatile with 1,086 attacks recorded in four months

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) The security situation in Somalia remained volatile, with 1086 attacks by the al-Qaeda-linked militant recorded in the past four months of the year, according to a new report by the United Nations Secretary General released

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Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers hold defensive positions 26 May 2012 in the town of Afgoye, west of the Somali capital Mogadishu. (Photo: AU/UN).

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) The security situation in Somalia remained volatile, with 1086 attacks by the al-Qaeda-linked militant recorded in the past four months of the year, according to a new report by the United Nations Secretary General released to the Security Council this week.

"Al-Shabaab significantly increased its mortar attacks in Mogadishu... with 235 incidents in January, 274 in February, 278 in March and 299 in April," the Secretary General's report says "This was due mainly to higher numbers of terrorism-related incidents, such as mortar attacks, improvised explosive device attacks and assassinations. Levels of crime and armed conflict-related incidents have remained steady since January."

ADEN AIRPORT

The Aden Adde International Airport zone, in which the United Nations compound is located, was attacked with 60 mm mortars on 17 February, 1 and 18 March and 19 and 26 April, the highest number of indirect fire attacks on the zone ever recorded, states the UN Secretary General. None of the mortars that landed in the attack on 17 February detonated.

"The attack on 1 March injured an international contractor. The attack on 18 March resulted in slight injuries to an international staff member. The attack on 19 April resulted in minor injuries to an international contractor. The attack on 26 April left five civilians injured and one dead in the vicinity of the zone, where one of the mortars landed," it notes "In a separate incident on the same day, an improvised explosive device detonated near one of the gates to the zone, without casualties."

MORTAR ATTACKS

Mortar attacks also increased countrywide, with a total of 29 between February and April, compared with 7 between November and January. The attacks mainly targeted the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), under the mandate of UN Security Council, and local security forces in Bari, Hiraan, Shabelle Dhexe, Shabelle Hoose and Juba Hoose.

The UN Secretary General's report mentions "On 11 March, mortars targeting a police training centre in Jawhar, Shabelle Dhexe, landed near the runway and the United Nations-AMISOM base, but caused no casualties or damage."

While a general decrease was observed in the number of civilian casualties from Al-Shabaab activity, the group increased its high-profile attacks. In March, the Governor of Nugaal was killed by a person-borne improvised explosive device in Garoowe, while the Chief of the Somali Defence Forces was targeted by an improvised explosive device in Shabelle Hoose, resulting in injuries to two soldiers. A second person-borne improvised explosive device targeted a restaurant in Mogadishu on 25 March, leaving four people dead.

"Al-Shabaab also used such devices to destroy closed-circuit television cameras in Mogadishu for the second time in 2020, thereby reducing the ability of the Somali authorities to prevent attacks," the report adds.

An increase in assassinations claimed by Al-Shabaab was also recorded, with 7 in January, 16 in February, 21 in March and 16 in April, as per the report. Six were attributed to pro-Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) elements in Mogadishu and Boosaaso, Bari Region, representing a slight increase compared with the previous period, when only three incidents were recorded.

The UN Security Council is due to decide on renewing AMISOM’s mandate by 31 May and UNSOM’s mandate by 30 June.