Somalia: Jihadists gain ground on border with Kenya

Bishop Joseph Alessandro

Early yesterday morning, 14 people were killed and 11 wounded in an attack in Somalia attributed to Shabaab Somalis."The goal of Shabaab is to 'liberate' the north-east of Somalia, inhabited by Kenyans of Somali origin, from the non-Muslims and non-Somalis", Mgr Joseph Alessandro, Coadjutor Bishop of Garissa, in north-eastern Kenya, bordering Somalia.

"Just like the attacks that took place before, workers coming from other areas of Kenya, therefore non-Somalis and non-Muslims are being targeted. Unfortunately it seems that this strategy is having success. Already several non-local workers have fled from Mandera in recent months. The most affected
sectors are health and education. Throughout the north-east education is in serious difficulty because of the lack of teachers, coming from other areas of the country, who refuse to go back to work there".

"We must say, however, that the Shabaab are also targeting several Muslim leaders who do not think like them and who support the government's action", added Mgr Alessandro.

"If this project of 'ethnic and religious cleansing' were to be completed, the Shabaab will declare these territories as 'Islamic lands' and perhaps join the
Caliphate. The government in Nairobi is trying to do everything possible so that Kenyans from other areas remain in the Northeast, because the whole area is likely to be destabilized", concluded Mgr Alessandro.

The Shabaab committed several attacks in November and December. The bloodiest attack was committed in April at the university campus of Garissa, where 148 students were killed.

Source: Fides