Kenya has intensified security operations in Mandera and Garissa following a series of attacks and roadside bombings, with several suspects arrested over alleged links to Al-Shabaab.
NAIROBI (Somali Report) — Kenya has launched intensified security operations against Al-Shabaab following a rise in attacks and roadside bombings in parts of Mandera and Garissa counties near the Somali border, security officials said.
Police officers and specially trained counterterrorism units have been deployed to areas where recent attacks and explosions occurred to investigate the incidents and track down suspected militants, according to the officials.
Authorities said several people suspected of belonging to Al-Shabaab or maintaining links with the armed group had been arrested during the operations. The suspects were being questioned, although officials did not disclose their number or provide further details about the arrests.
The security crackdown follows a series of attacks targeting security personnel, military positions and vehicles travelling through parts of northeastern Kenya.
A Kenyan security officer and a member of his security detail were killed on Friday when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb, according to the information provided by local sources.
The blast was preceded by attacks on security installations and vehicles moving through areas of Garissa and Mandera, raising concerns over renewed militant activity in the region.
Kenyan authorities have not publicly identified all those responsible for the latest incidents, but officials suspect Al-Shabaab, the Somalia-based Islamist militant group that has carried out repeated attacks inside Kenya.
The group has frequently targeted security forces and civilians in northeastern Kenya, particularly in areas close to the Somali border. Its attacks have included roadside bombs, ambushes and assaults on security posts.
Kenya has been a key contributor to regional military operations against Al-Shabaab in Somalia and has faced retaliatory attacks since sending troops across the border in 2011.
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The group has repeatedly threatened Kenya over its military involvement in Somalia, where African Union-backed forces and Somali government troops have fought to weaken the militants' territorial control.
Kenyan security forces have regularly conducted operations in border counties to disrupt suspected militant networks, prevent cross-border infiltration and improve security along key transport routes.
Mandera and Garissa are strategically important because of their proximity to Somalia and their exposure to cross-border militant activity. The vast and often remote border region has posed persistent challenges for security forces seeking to prevent attacks and monitor movements between the two countries.
The latest operations are intended to investigate the recent incidents and identify individuals suspected of supporting or participating in militant activities.
However, authorities have not announced how long the operations will continue or whether additional security measures will be introduced in the affected areas.
There was no immediate information on further casualties from the latest operations, and officials had not released details about any weapons or explosives recovered during the arrests.
Al-Shabaab remains one of the principal security threats facing Somalia and neighbouring countries. The group continues to carry out attacks despite years of military operations by Somali forces and international partners aimed at dismantling its networks and restricting its operational capabilities.
Kenya has maintained heightened security along its northeastern frontier as authorities seek to prevent further attacks and protect security personnel and civilians in border communities.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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