Reflecting stepped-up targeting of extremists in Africa, the U.S. military said airstrikes killed more than 100 militants in Somalia on Tuesday and hit Islamic State fighters in Libya days earlier, like reported by japantimes.co.jp.

U.S. Africa Command, which manages U.S. military operations on the continent, said the airstrike in Somalia targeted an al-Shabab camp about 125 miles northwest of the capital, Mogadishu, killing more than 100. That is the largest number of reported deaths from a single U.S. airstrike in Somalia since the Trump administration approved expanded military operations against al-Shabab, which is allied with al-Qaida.

Al-Shabab is blamed for last month’s truck bombing in Mogadishu that killed more than 350 people.

A Somali intelligence official said U.S. drone aircraft fired at least eight missiles at al-Shabab bases and training camps in Bur-Eylada, a village situated between the towns of Dinsor and Burhakaba in the Bay region. The official, who was not authorized to speak to reporters on the record and discussed the matter on condition of anonymity, said senior al-Shabab commanders were among the dead.

The U.S. this month also began targeting a small but growing IS presence in northern Somalia.

Separately, Africa Command said it conducted two airstrikes near Fuqaha in central Libya against Islamic State group militants — one Nov. 17 and another two days later. It made no mention of casualties and did not identify the specific targets. It said the strikes were done in coordination with Libya’s interim government, known as the Government of National Accord.

The Trump administration has committed to preventing the Islamic State group from regrouping after losing its grip on significant territory in Iraq and Syria.

The Somalia strike was done in coordination with Somalia’s federal government, the Pentagon said.

U.S. airstrikes killing such a large number of militants in Somalia are rare, but not unprecedented. In March 2016, a U.S. airstrike killed more than 150 al-Shabab fighters in Somalia.

Somalia’s state news agency, SONNA, reported late on Tuesday that “about 100 militants” were killed when U.S. planes and Somali commandos attacked al-Shabab bases in the Bur Elay area of Bay region.

Al-Shabab spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab denied the attack. “It is just … propaganda,” he told Reuters in Somalia.

Al-Shabab is fighting to topple Somalia’s Western-backed transitional federal government and impose its own rule on the Horn of Africa country.

Earlier this month, the U.S. warned of a threat to its diplomatic staff in Mogadishu and directed all nonessential staff to leave the capital.

Al-Shabab has lost control of most of Somalia’s cities and towns since it was pushed out of Mogadishu in 2011. But it retains a strong presence in parts of the south and center and carries out gun and bomb attacks.

“Al-Shabab has publicly committed to planning and conducting attacks against the U.S. and our partners in the region,” the U.S. military statement said.

Al-Shabab aims to topple Somalia’s government, drive out African Union peacekeeping troops and impose its own harsh interpretation of Islamic law.

Earlier this month, the U.S. military also carried out its first strikes against Islamic State militants in Somalia and said it killed “several terrorists.”

Police in northeastern Nigeria say at least 50 people are dead after a suicide bombing at a mosque, like reported by cbsnews.com.

The teenage bomber detonated early Tuesday in Adamawa state as people were arriving for morning prayers. Police spokesman Othman Abubakar tells The Associated Press that the young man detonated his explosives while mingling among the worshippers.

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, suspicion immediately fell on Boko Haram.

The Islamic extremist group is based in neighboring Borno state and has been blamed for scores of similar attacks, including one last week in Borno state which left at least 14 people dead.

In last week’s attack, four suicide bombers blew themselves up in the Borno state capital of Maiduguri, killing 14 and wounding another 29 in one of the largest such attacks in the city in years.

Police spokesman Victor Isukwu said the two male and two female bombers targeted crowded parts of the Muna Gari suburb. The first explosion went off at a prayer ground, he said.

Police said the four bombers also were killed. The 29 injured were rushed to local hospitals for treatment.

While Nigeria’s military has made progress in combating Boko Haram’s deadly insurgency, the group continues to carry out suicide attacks in Maiduguri and elsewhere. The group often uses female or child bombers, some who had been abducted.

The extremist group has defied the government’s claim made late last year that Boko Haram had been “crushed” after being flushed out of its strongholds. The insurgents continue to threaten parts of vast northern Nigeria and neighboring countries. Millions have been displaced in the nearly decade-old insurgency and more than 20,000 killed. The displacement has created a vast humanitarian crisis as hunger remains widespread.

Officials say that the US has more than doubled the number of ground troops in Somalia this year, and now have over 500 troops there, like reported by zerohedge.com.

This is the most troops the US have had in the country since 1993, when the Black Hawk Down incident killed 18 US soldiers and led to a quick withdrawal from the nation.

This year was also the first year since 1993 that any US troops died in Somalia.

This escalation has involved a soaring number of US airstrikes in Somalia, not to mention a number of joint ground operations with Somali forces, mostly against al-Shabaab fighters, but many of them with very unclear goals.

But the goals of the whole US operation in Somalia aren’t exactly clear anyhow, with some vague interest in fighting al-Shabaab, and possibly the ISIS affiliate in Puntland, but little sign that the operation is anything but escalation for escalation’s sake.

Latest report as Boko Haram terrorists, on Sunday, attacked two communities in Borno State, killing six persons and carting away harvested foods, like reported by mynationnews.com.

Meanwhile sources said the insurgents attacked Binge village in Lawanti, Jere Local Government and Masu, Mafa Local Government on Sunday afternoon.

Residents said Boko Haram first hit Binge where they slit the throat of two people and then proceeded to Masu, killing another four others. Both communities, which have experienced about three attacks by Boko Haram in the past, are located few metres from Maiduguri, Borno capital.

Ahmed Jidda, brother to one of the deceased said the insurgents caught some farmers on farmland at Binge on Sunday at about 2:30pm, and slit their throats. They thereafter proceeded to Masu few metres away on another killing mission.

“Some of our people escaped from the farmlands and brought report,” Jidda told newsmen during the visit to Lawanti where residents of Binge now take refuge on Monday. He said the military was yet to give them clearance to evacuate the corpses for burial.

No official comment from the military and the police as at press time.

EU NAVFOR Somalia’s Flagship, the Italian vessel ITS Virginio Fasan, has apprehended six suspected pirates and seized their vessels, like reported by maritime-executive.com.

Six crew of a motor whaler, acting as mother ship, and a skiff have been detained following attacks on a 52,000 ton container ship and a fishing vessel. The attacks reportedly took place over a 24 hour period on November 17 and 18 in the Southern Somali Basin, an area known for piracy. During the incidents a number of rocket propelled grenades were fired against the container ship. However, adherence to piracy guidelines BMP4, the presence of a security team on one of the vessels and good seamanship avoided any damage or injuries, and all crew and vessels are now safe.

The suspected pirates were apprehended by the Italian Marines from ITS Virginio Fasanafter their vessels were located using Fasan’s SH-90 helicopter, following initial searches by the Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft Cisne.

This search for the suspected pirates was coordinated with partners and from information provided by the masters of the vessels concerned. Positive visual verification was made. A legal process has now begun for the suspected pirates to be transferred to the appropriate authority for prosecution.

The Pentagon said that a week’s worth of daily airstrikes in Somalia is not “necessarily” a “ramp-up” in U.S. operations in the Horn of Africa, even as U.S. troop levels there are close to the number of troops on the ground helping local forces fight ISIS in Syria, like reported by pjmedia.com.

U.S. Africa Command said in a statement Wednesday that, in coordination with the Somali government, the U.S. conducted airstrikes against Al-Shabaab targets 60 miles northwest of Mogadishu the evening before, “killing several militants.”

“Al-Shabaab has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda and is dedicated to providing safe haven for terrorist attacks throughout the world. Al-Shabaab has publicly committed to planning and conducting attacks against the U.S. and our partners in the region,” the statement continued. “U.S. forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect Americans and to disable terrorist threats. This includes partnering with AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces (SNSF); targeting terrorists, their training camps and safe havens throughout Somalia, the region and around the world.”

Joint Staff Director Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie told reporters today that “as we constantly assess the battle space, when targets present themselves that are actionable and within the law of armed conflict, we’re going to strike those targets.”

“As targets present themselves, sometimes it talks a long time to develop a target because it through it an — an exquisite vetting process to make sure they’re we’re striking the tracking appropriately, not doing damage that we don’t need to do. So something it takes us a long time to develop targets,” he said. “So there’s no particular rhythm to it, except that as they become available and as we’re able to process them and vet them, we strike.”

The general added that “the density of targets is such that now there’s some opportunities to do those strikes.”

Asked if increased strikes in Somalia may be targeting ISIS fighters migrating by way of Yemen, McKenzie replied, “I’m not prepared to actually talk about operational details.”

“We look very closely at how foreign fighters flow into the caliphate — not so much anymore — and how they try to get out, which is very hard for them now, for a variety of reasons,” he said. “But I’m not — I’m not prepared to actually say that that’s the case here, and I wouldn’t be able to share it if we actually knew.”

In the past six months, the number of U.S. troops in Somalia has risen from about 50 to “a little under” 500. In Syria, there are “about 503” U.S. troops, the general said, while there are “approximately 5,262” currently in Iraq.

“I would not associate that with a build-up [in Somalia]… I think it’s just the flow of forces in and out as different organizations come in that might be sized a little differently,” McKenzie said. “And I certainly don’t think there’s a ramp-up of attacks. Again, I go back to the point that I’ve hit a couple of times, that really we develop a lot of targets in these places. And it takes a long time to process those targets, to get them vetted, to — again, to make sure that we’re scrupulously correct in regard to the law of armed conflict and our own values and our own approach to warfare.”

The killing of more than 80 peacekeepers in Mali has prompted calls for the United Nations to increase its presence in the West African country, like reported by cajnewsafrica.com.

The UN Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) is also hampered by crucial funding gaps in equipment and expertise.

Of the 170 peacekeepers killed while serving in UN missions globally since the beginning of 2013 up to the end of September this year, 86 were with MINUSMA.

“We need to do more in terms of training, how the force is organized, and modalities of how we protect ourselves and better-protect the population as well, against the threats they are facing,” said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations.

He said peacekeepers faced “very serious challenges” in the four-year-old operation to fulfil its mandate in Mali.

Lacroix appealed for other troop contributing countries (TCCs) to come forward to help staff one the UN’s most dangerous peacekeeping missions.

The country of 18 million people has experienced instability since a rebellion by Muslim extremists in the north in 2012.

A coup by military officer Amadou Sanogo, against then-President Amadou Toumani Touré, followed.
Militants disregard the administration of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, elected in 2013.

Over 1000  security agents  drawn from  various  agencies in Nigeria  are to benefit from an ongoing Incident Management training course organised by the the United Kingdom , with   a view to meeting up with international standard of crisis management, like reported by vanguardngr.com.

Speaking yesterday at the kick- off of the training  tagged ‘  Incident Commanders Management Course , held at the Police Officer Mess, Ikeja, the UK convener, Michael Askew, explained that the training was aimed at  ensuring that effective measures were put in place to systematically handle major incidents in the country.

The initiative which according to him was on the insistence of the Inspector-General of Police was also part of the UK government’s support to Nigeria in her effort to respond to crisis. Participants at the training included  unit commanders from the Police , Military, National Security Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC),  Fire Service and the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA).

Other agencies in attendance were; Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), Department of State Security (DSS) and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC). Explaining, Askew said ” The course will improve the abilities of senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force, along with partner agencies at middle and senior management level to understand and apply the principles of modern incident command.

The aim of the course is also to develop current senior commanders knowledge and skills to effectively manage emergencies, crisis and major incidents.

“In achieving this aim, the course will also provide an opportunity for some officers to acquire the knowledge and skills to deliver the courses in-house. “The course is designed to develop the theories, models, principles and practices of major incident management required for a multi agency approach.

“The course will highlight those high level competencies required for efficient and effective managements of incident occurring as a result of terrorism.

The Republic of Benin has deployed 150 soldiers to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), to fight Boko Haram insurgents in the Lake Chad region, an official has disclosed like reported by premiumtimesng.com.

Mustapha Anka, the Chief Military Public Information Officer of the Force, made the disclosure in a statement he issued on Thursday in Maiduguri.

Mr. Anka, a colonel, said that the troops comprised eight officers and 142 soldiers, adding that the contingent had arrived MNJTF’s headquarters, Farcha Camp, Ndjamena, Chad.

He quoted the Force Commander, Lucky Irabor, as urging the troops to be good ambassadors of their country.

Mr. Irabor, a major general, however, admonished the troops to be law-abiding, disciplined and display a high sense of professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

“Gen. Irabor reminded the troops of their tasks, which involve garrison duties for the MNJTF.

“The commander thanked the President of the Benin Republic, Patrice Talon, the government and good people of the republic for their unflinching support in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the Lake Chad region,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Benin is the fifth West African country to join the MNJTF, besides Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad.

Kenya has suffered the far-reaching effects of repeated attacks by Somalia-based Al-Shabaab terrorist group for years. Tourism has declined. Jobs have been lost and foreign direct investment has withered. The greater Horn of Africa region bordering Somalia has also suffered, but statistics indicate that Kenya experiences an inordinate number of attacks by the terror group, like reported by the-star.co.ke.

This trend cannot be explained by geography alone. Granted, Kenya’s porous and ill-guarded borders does make it easier for terrorists to infiltrate the country. But Ethiopia has a much longer border with Somalia than Kenya does.

Between 2006 and 2007 Al-Shabaab conducted few attacks outside of Somalia. There was only one terrorist attack in Ethiopia; there were none in Kenya. In contrast, between 2008 and 2015, the group executed a total of 272 attacks in Kenya and only five in Ethiopia.

Some scholars have focused on Al-Shabaab’s retaliation for Nairobi’s armed intervention in Somalia, beginning in late 2011, as the reason for Kenya’s woes. Yet Ethiopian forces have been in Somalia for more than a decade and both Burundi and Uganda contribute heavily to the African Union Mission In Somalia (AMISOM).

It is also worth remembering that the incursion by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) was itself a reaction to Al-Shabaab attacks within Kenya that date back to 2008.

So what explains Al-Shabaab’s focus on Kenya? Our research indicates that Al-Shabaab attacks critical Kenyan targets for both logical and opportunistic reasons. They are based on geographical proximity to Al-Shabaab’s bases in southern Somalia and reinforced by other variables that play into terrorist groups’ general modus operandi.

For example, attacks such as those perpetrated by Al-Shabaab in Kenya exploit existing opportunity spaces and can be referred to as “propaganda by deed”. In this, they seek to raise attention to the group’s existence and viability, thereby enticing recruits to its ranks and spreading fear. In essence, the larger and more brutal the attack, the more the group is perceived as potentially more relevant and powerful than it possibly is.

Indeed, Al-Shabaab’s attacks in Kenya have been characterised by their gruesome effect and have attracted critical news coverage internationally. This gives Al-Shabaab a level of publicity, notoriety and international relevance that often belies its increasing isolation in Somalia.

Why Al-Shabaab targets Kenya

Al-Shabaab’s current – though shrunken –-stronghold is in southern Somalia. The geographic proximity of southern Somalia to targets in Kenya makes it easier to plan and launch terrorist attacks. The terror group has attacked not only Nairobi, but Mandera and Garissa in the north-east, as well as Kenya’s tourist-filled coastline. In contrast, potential targets such as Addis Ababa, Djibouti or Kampala are geographically distant and logistically difficult to reach.

Kenya is also one of sub-Saharan Africa’s most important states and East Africa’s hub. Its international visibility and status lead Al-Shabaab to make conscious decisions and efforts to attack it. Attacking targets in Kenya, particularly in Nairobi or on the coast, guarantees Al-Shabaab a level of international coverage that a similar attack in Ethiopia, for example, would not.

Most international media operate freely in Kenya. Many outlets, such as Xinhua, CNN and Al-Jazeera base their Africa operations in Nairobi. The media coverage given to horrific attacks here presents presents Al-Shabaab the “oxygen” it needs to survive and, potentially, thrive.

Kenya’s highly-developed tourism sector is another target. The cumulative result of attacks and terrorism related travel advisories has been a marked decline in the number of tourists visiting the country since 2013. This has also led to hotel closures and job losses along the entire tourism supply chain.

This appears to bleed into arguments that posit Al-Shabaab attacks Kenya to bring it to its knees economically, influence foreign policy and force it to withdraw from Somalia. We argue that while this is partially true, it is not the only reason Al-Shabaab attacks Kenya’s tourist spots. Rather, it attacks Kenya because it’s a tourist hub and offers ample, opportune targets for terror.

Finally, Kenya’s security services are reportedly riddled with inefficiency and corruption. Al-Shabaab has exploited this fact. There have been strong allegations as well as hard evidence that Kenya’s police and military have occasionally colluded with Al-Shabaab.

What Kenya can do

Kenya needs to squarely face this reality and take appropriate measures to counter a persistent and therefore predictable threat.

This does not imply that the Kenyan government should anticipate the location or timing of attacks. But it should be aware of and take appropriate measures to counter this threat.

Research has demonstrated that the most promising way to reduce terrorism is to reduce the terrorists’ confidence in their ability to carry out attacks. Kenya needs to proactively address border security and revamp national security apparatuses.

But before shelling out money for the recruitment and training of more security and military personnel, Kenya must firmly deal with the omnipresent bugbear of corruption. Research on the proposed Kenya-Somalia border wall, for example, demonstrated it will have little positive effect if the design and construction are simply vehicles for corruption.

Walls may stop some determined terrorists but they are largely useless if guards are susceptible to bribes and let attackers through. In 2014 two Al-Shabaab affiliated border guards bribed Kenyan border guards to escort them from Somalia to Mombasa. The two were later captured in the city driving a vehicle stuffed with automatic weapons, rounds of ammunition and almost 50 kilograms of explosives.

The overall lack of training and professionalism in the security sector must also be addressed. Close attention should be paid to the well-being and quality of security personnel and equipment at installations ranging from shopping malls to private homes, government buildings and borders.

Third, the Kenyan government has been unable or unwilling to effectively counter negative news stories and Al-Shabaab propaganda that paint the country as a “hotbed of terror“. The fact remains that some states, including Kenya, appear to suffer more from the public perception of instability and danger from terrorism than others. These perceptions often correspond little to reality or statistics.

Terrorism is a region wide problem. It makes sense for Kenya to work with Somalia and Ethiopia on shared borders, refugees and the like.

Yet Kenya must also understand that it is the primary Al-Shabaab target outside of Somalia. No amount of regional cooperation will entirely alter that. As such, it must attempt to positively and consistently address the reasons why it is the target of attack largely on its own.