The Ongoing Unrest & Coup in Gabon 

General Brice Oligui Nguema being celebrated in the streets

After President Ali Bongo of Gabon announced that he had been successfully re-elected on the 30th of August, all seemed fine within Gabon. However, just hours later gunfire and unrest were heard in the country's capital, Libreville. The election had already been fraught with rumours and claims of corruption. During the midst of this unrest, military officers appeared on state television to disavow the election. The gunfire in the capital was the start of a coup, which would see President Bongo ousted from power and have one of his sons in custody. In a video released during the coup, Bongo can be seen in his decadent house calling his supporters to prevent his removal. The former President also called for international intervention to prevent another African coup. Gabon's military had removed Bongo as President and selected General Brice Oligui Nguema as the country's new transitional leader. Members of Bongo's opposition and supporters of the military took to the streets to celebrate the ousting of the former President, who had ruled the country for over a decade. The country's new leader, General Nguema, was paraded through the streets by soldiers and supporters.

Former President Bongo calling for international intervention against the coup

Bongo's family had ruled Gabon since the 1960s, with the title of President being passed down. Ali Bongo would take charge in 2009 after the death of his father. His poor handling of the country since, and dubious elections, had led to him becoming a hated figure within his own country. News of his third term as President was something that outraged many across the country, including the country's military. The leader of the opposition party, Albert Ondo Odesa, claimed that many polling stations across the country did not contain ballots with his name on. News of his third term was harrowing to many, so the military removed him from power. Bongo had handled the country poorly through the COVID pandemic and through the country's economic struggles. The pandemic and lockdown devastated the Gabonese economy, with nearly 40% of 15 to 24-year-olds out of work. Gabon is one of Africa's biggest oil exporters, but such profits have not been reinvested in the country's infrastructure or economy. It was estimated that $6 billion in revenue was created through oil production and exportation. This money was hoarded by a few, including former President Bongo. Bongo also had to take a medical leave from leading the country as he suffered from a stroke in 2018. This health scare did not cause him to resign, despite many calling for him to do so. Nguema himself was very close to Bongo's father, becoming one of his closest advisors in the later stage of his life. After he passed away, he took many important roles within the country's military, even replacing Ali Bongo's half-brother as intelligence chief.

Despite all of these issues, intelligence analysts believe that the election was merely an excuse for the military to claim power. The fact that the coup happened so quickly indicates that the armed forces had planned this in advance, making it unlikely that this was done purely based on electoral results. Those who came out in support of the army didn't do so because they endorsed the armed forces, but because they despised the corrupt leadership of Bongo. This marks the 8th coup in Africa since 2020. Gabon sits as an outlier to the previous coups. Countries like Niger and Mali all face major problems with violent extremism, while in comparison, Gabon is a relatively stable country. Around the world, the coup has been condemned. Western nations like the US have implored that civilian leadership be reinstated in Gabon. Countries across Africa have also spoken out against the military coup. Members of the Economic Community of Central Africa have condemned the actions of the military.

Military Officers condemning President Bongo's Third Term on Television

The alarming number of coups in Africa, especially those which were former French colonies, is not seen as a pattern, according to the US National Security Council. On Wednesday, during a press conference, the council's spokesman John Kirby said, "It's too soon to do a table slap here and say, 'yep, we've got a trend here going' or 'yep, we've got a domino effect."

The celbrations following the coup

Turning the Tide: The Second Stage of the Counteroffensive against Al-Shabaab in Somalia 

We have previously reported on the multiple triumphs that the Somali government has achieved in their counteroffensive against Al-Shabaab. Now, it seems that the counteroffensive is entering its second stage. With the presence of the militant group reduced in the northern regions, the Somali army is now deploying into the central and lower regions of the country. These regions are pivotal for Al-Shabaab, both strategically and logistically. In the UN monitoring report, they expect that the fighting in these regions would become intense, with Al-Shabaab desperately defending their most valuable territories.

On the 18th of July, it was reported that Somalia has begun its push into the central regions. Joined by their ATMIS and US counterparts, the Somali army began setting up base camps across the HirShabelle and Galmadug states. This initial push into these territories has resulted in the death of over 3,000 Al-Shabaab militants, according to reports. With this mass deployment of the Somali army across the area, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has also requested additional non-ATMIS troops from Djibouti, Kenya, and Ethiopia to fortify the Somali lines.

Intelligence gathering on the group has also become much easier. Three years ago, the Somali High Court ruled that it was illegal for the government to tap the phones of suspected Al-Shabaab financiers. Now, after a long appeal, that verdict has been overturned. The Somali Government can actively track suspected leaders of the group through text and cell phone data. Defense CS Duale asked for the continued support of Somalis in the fight against terror. After the verdict, Duale called out the terror group directly. He said, 'I give a straightforward message to the leadership rank and file of Al-Shabaab. We will hunt you down using all the security apparatus at our disposal. We will work with other nations in IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) to hunt you down, even in Somalia, and get you. We will protect the territorial and sovereign integrity of our people.'

The Dulmi Diid Militia

In military operations, US, Somali, and ATMIS forces have seen continued success. US-backed operations on the 19th of July led to the death of over 100 Al-Shabaab fighters in the Middle Shabelle Region. A few days later, US airstrikes killed 5 more terror operatives. Local militias have also been invaluable in fighting the terror organization. In the southwest of the country, an armed militia calling themselves Dulmi Diid, meaning 'opposing the oppression,' has established itself. The group, mainly composed of ethnic Rahanwein individuals, is taking the fight to Al-Shabaab in their own territory. Dulmi Diid was formed to end the oppressive rule of Al-Shabaab over the lower regions. Al-Shabaab recently blockaded the city of Baidoa, leaving hundreds of people without fuel, water, and food. Dulmi Diid has been actively fighting against this blockade. The group isn’t just militaristic; they have also called for more cooperation between the national and local state governments. These collaborative military efforts are working wonders against the terror group. It is expected that by December 2024, these regions will be free from Al-Shabaab control.

While the second stage of the counteroffensive has been successful so far, Al-Shabaab is still carrying out attacks regularly. Al-Shabaab is incredibly effective at funding itself through extortion and taxation. According to the US State Department, the group pulls in nearly $120 million a year. It is thought that $24 million of this sum goes towards purchasing weapons from abroad. The rest goes to pay fighters and fund operations outside of the country. Additionally, it is believed that these funds are also used to pay foreign fighters from other African countries. Recently, men from Uganda and Tanzania were caught by security forces as they were traveling to an Al-Shabaab stronghold to join the group. Going after the financial structures of the terror group is a necessary part of this second stage. As mentioned previously, Somali courts have now allowed phone tapping and deeper surveillance against suspected financiers. At the end of July, President Mohamud met with Brian Nelson, the Under Secretary of the US Treasury for Financial Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. In the meeting, the successes of the Somali Government’s fight against financial crime were revealed. Over 250 Al-Shabaab-associated bank accounts were closed, and 70 money-wiring firms associated with the group were shut down. The US had also gathered a list of suspected financiers who were being surveyed and blacklisted from flights to the US. Restricting the group's finances would cripple the group, removing any incentive for foreign fighters to join and limiting the scale of their operations.

The Post-Coup Pro-Russian Movement Spreading Through Niger

After the alleged coup that occurred on the 26th of July, it seems support for Russia has spread throughout the country. The largest pro-Russian demonstration took place in the capital of Niamey, where hundreds took to the street displaying Russian flags. This outpouring of support for Russia appears to be reflecting the values of the alleged new leader of the country, General Abdourahamane Tchiani. 

Previous President, Mohamed Bazoum was an ally of many Western nations, including France. Bazoum's relationship was so close with France that the European nation had a military base in Niger. French armed forces would also cooperate with Nigerien forces when fighting extremists. The new pro-Russian stance adopted by Niger follows in the footsteps of many other African nations who seek aid from the Wagner Group. 

Members of this pro-Russian movement are not only siding with Russia because of security, but also because they distrust the French Government. Citizens see them as a force that exploits the resources of Niger for their gain. Niger is the seventh largest exporter of uranium in the world, something that France takes advantage of. Whilst the West is harvesting resources in their nation, most Nigerien citizens live in poverty, with two in five people living on just two dollars a day. 

Nigerien Security Forces Dispersing a pro-Russian Crowd

Throughout 2022, former President Bazoum banned French protests, after much public outrage directed at the country. Civil groups would form the M62 Coalition to protest against the rising costs of living, poor quality of life and the French forces stationed within the country. For the M62 Coalition and the plethora of other pro-Russian groups, they hope an alliance with Russia will bring with it more technology and better access to resources. 

This huge surge of pro-Russian movements may also indicate that Russia was behind the coup. That is according to Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian President. He took to social media to claim that the coup was another Russian attempt at disrupting global stability. In a statement made on the 31st of July, a spokesperson for Russia described the coup as, 'deeply concerning'. The only party who praised the coup was Wagner President, Yevgeny Prigozhin. Priogozhin said that the move is a step toward independence from the West. The Wagner Group has already been established as a force used by many other former-French, now pro-Russian West African countries, including Mali and Burkina Faso. The Wagner Group has not claimed responsibility for the coup. Further statements from the Russian Government called for restraint to be shown on all sides and hoped for a return to stability for the country of Niger. 

The UN's Monitor Report: Fighting Al Qaeda and Islamic State in Africa

On July 24th, the UN Security Council released a Monitor Report on Al Qaeda and Islamic State, updating the world on the ongoing fight against the two largest terror organisations. Though the report looks at multiple areas of the world, in this article we will solely focus on the developments made against the terror groups in the African continent. Updates from other continents will be covered in another article. 

North Africa

In the north of the continent, both terror groups were found to be at their weakest. In the past few years, major affiliate organisations in North Africa have been hit hard. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has moved into northern Mali. Islamic State affiliate, Jund al-Khilafah in Tunisia (JAK-T) is facing major financing issues. Following the deaths of many of its prominent members, JAK-T is believed to be hiding in the Samama Mountains in Tunisia. There are believed to be only fifteen members left of this group. 

In Morocco, there has been immense success in fighting these terror organisations. Counter-terror authorities have shut down five terrorist cells that were working with the Core Islamic State organisation or its affiliate in the Great Sahara (ISGS). In total, twenty-five people were arrested, with one cell having plans to rob banks across Morocco to fund IS terror operations.

In Libya, the fight against Islamic State has been frought with difficulty due to the affiliate's connections to organised crime. The affiliate, Islamic State in the Levant-Libya (ISIL-Libya), has close links to organised crime groups that control trafficking routes in the country. The report also suggests that ISIL-Libya are attempting to infiltrate local tribes to aid in recruitment, especially in the south of the country. One of the scariest things revealed by the report is that ISIL-Libya is focusing its efforts on recruiting chemists and scientists in hopes of committing more sophisticated attacks. The group has around three hundred to five hundred members and is currently based in southern Libya, where they are free from Government intervention. The Government in Libya is still unstable and does not have full control over the entire country. The south, and some central regions, are absent from any Government or authority. Their close relationships with organised criminals have allowed them to reorganise themselves in the Fezzan Province. The UN Report also indicates that ISIL-Libya may have training camps in Fezzan, where they train fighters going to West Africa and the Sahel. 

Despite the reorganisation of the group, Libyan authorities have dismantled several terror cells. Most notably, an engineer was arrested when he was attempting to sabotage gas pipelines using armed drones. More concerning, was the handbook retrieved whilst arresting the engineer. The book contained instructions on how to create poison and biological weapons. It is believed these plans come directly from the ISIL Core.

Intelligence gathering against the group has been diligent and thorough, with the structure of the organisation being known. ISIL-Libya is believed to be divided into four sub-groups each specialising in different areas of terror operation. The sub-groups consist of a bombmaking team, a security team, fighters and a military commission. 

Al Qaeda has also entrenched itself in southern Libya. Much like the Islamic State in the south, Al Qaeda uses its position in southern Libya to support its affiliates in the Sahel. The report also indicates that ISIL-Libya and Al-Qaeda in southern Libya collaborate and share resources. Al Qaeda has a much smaller force of only one hundred and fifty to three hundred fighters in southern Libya. Most of these fighters are moving through the area to countries like Niger, Mali and Sudan. It is also believed that these operations are aided by the Tuareg, a semi-nomadic, ethnic group in southern Libya. Intelligence also suggests that Libyan terror groups are using the instability in Sudan to transport fighters to and from West Africa.

Libyan Counter-terror Forces

In Egypt, the Al Qaeda-aligned group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM) have been nearly destroyed by counter-terror forces. According to the UN Report, local and core structures of the terror organisation have been largely disbanded. The last major attack by the group occurred in December 2022 and is viewed as an act of desperation, with the group's total members estimated to be in the tens or low hundreds. The group's activities in the Sinai Peninsula have been heavily affected by Egypt's investment in local infrastructure and community outreach. Where local communities once acted as potential recruitment sites for the group, now they are aligned with Egypt's Government. 

West Africa 

In West Africa, affiliate groups play an instrumental role in creating instability. As it becomes more difficult to communicate with the faltering core groups, local affiliates' autonomy is the biggest terror threat in West Africa. One group in particular, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam Wal-muslimin (JNIM), currently poses the biggest threat to West African nations. Previously, the group were contained in Mali, but now it seems they have ramped up operations in Burkina Faso. It's believed the increase in operations is being done to apply pressure on local authorities during negotiations. With the escalation of the group's tactics, it seems the once Al Qaeda-affiliated group is now distancing itself from the core organisation. Not only is it straying from Al-Qaeda's core doctrine, but also separating itself from local affiliated groups. In battle, JNIM do not fight under the Al Qaeda flag, but under their own banner. JINM's new terror campaign in Burkina Faso has brought with it many issues for the group. Since JNIM encompasses a number of local fighters, usually beliefs and agendas conflict with one another creating tension within the organisation. 

Despite expanding as an organisation, it seems as if JNIM can not compete with the Islamic State in the Great Sahara (ISGS), the IS affiliate in West Africa. The Tri-Border area between Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali has become a warring ground for terror organisations. JNIM has suffered major losses at the hands of ISGS, despite fighting alongside Tuareg Militias in the area. It is important to note that these losses for JNIM in border areas do not reflect the group's control further West. Intelligence suggests that Mali's capital is encircled by JNIM, allowing them full control of the entire area up to the southern border. Through local battalions, JNIM can control local political and security disputes. Mali's weak military is also unable to properly fight back against the terror group. The report also implies that the expanded presence of the Wagner Group has done little to combat the influence of JNIM. From these controlled positions in Mali, JNIM can effectively launch attacks in Burkina Faso and the southern Sahel. 

The strongest of these JNIM battalions is the Katiba Macina, a force which acts almost autonomously from the rest of the JNIM organisation. The Katiba Macina are most active in Burkina Faso, where the force takes advantage of the instability created by locals, making it hard to distinguish between JNIM advances or just community clashes. They also work closely with the rebel group Ansarul Islam. With their most powerful battalion in Burkina Faso, JNIM has a commanding presence over authorities. JNIM's desire to expand to the southern border of Burkina Faso has also created spillover terrorism in regions of Benin, Togo and Niger.

JNIM Fighters in the Sahel

Unlike Al Qaeda affiliates, ISGS remain dedicated to the Core organisation of the Islamic State. The IS affiliate has had some major setbacks with leading members being killed by International forces and by the JNIM. The leadership of ISGS is primarily Arab, with some Fulani deputies. Most of the affiliate's fighters are of Fulani descent. The report believes that this creates a huge potential for infighting and internal descension within the affiliate group. The predominantly Fulani fighting force of ISGS has inadvertently restricted the group's expansion. Many of the Fulani fighters of ISGS do not want to participate in fratricide, as most of the Katiba Macina are also of Fulani descent. This and the fact that ISGS fighters are stretched thin across multiple fronts make the affiliate's advances a lot slower than first expected. Niger seems to be ISGS' new prime target, with multiple attacks taking place across northern regions of the country. These attacks aim to strengthen their supply and recruitment routes from Nigeria. 

Central and Southern Africa

We will start this section by looking at the ongoing situation in Mozambique, where the Islamic State-affiliated terror organisation Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jama (ASWJ) continues its campaign. ASWJ are a smaller force of around one hundred and eighty to two hundred fighters. Despite their size, they carry out attacks relentlessly. Since January, the UN Report states that nearly sixty-five members have been killed. Even though this was a major blow to the terror group, displaced fighters would form small terror cells to continue carrying out attacks. Mozambique and South African Development Community counter-terror forces have launched numerous attacks on the group, targeting their leadership. These have been a success with an overall decrease in terror attacks and civilian deaths.

One way ASWJ is attempting to survive is through inroads with local communities. Specifically trying to forge relationships with farmers and small businesses. The UN Report believes that this is being done in an attempt to sustain the group economically. Despite being an affiliate group of IS, there is no evidence to suggest that ASWJ is taking orders from the Core organisation. Most of the foreign fighters for the group come from surrounding African nations, like Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a joint operation between the army and Ugandan forces continues to take place against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). Operation Sujaa, as it is known, has been incredibly successful. ADF bases have been raided, over four hundred fighters have been killed, eighty-one were arrested and just over one-hundred and fifty-one abductees were freed. The most notable success of Operation Sujaa was the assassination of Mulalo Seguja, the leader of the ADF's political faction. 

The success of the counter-terror operations has not stopped the ADF's attacks. In the eastern region of North Kivu, the ADF used a large IED to kill sixteen civilians and injure sixty others. The IED was the biggest made by the ADF. The device is believed to have weighed anywhere from seven to ten kilograms. These large explosives seem to be used by a specific ADF General, named Abwakasi. It is thought that over five hundred civilians had been killed by the ADF in the past six months. It is also believed that the ADF has an overall size of one thousand five hundred to two thousand fighters. The group has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, but there is no evidence they are taking orders from the terror organisation.

East Africa

One of the biggest counter-offensives going on in the continent of Africa right now is the one against Al-Shabaab in Somalia. Airstrikes and raids against leading members have been extremely successful. Leaders of the financial wing of the terror group have been targeted to curb the massive revenue they pull in from extortion. The report estimates that the group collects $100 million per year. The terror group is believed to have between seven thousand to twelve thousand members. 

Retaliatory attacks from Al-Shabaab have occurred, mainly against members of ATMIS, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia. Just a few months ago, five hundred Al-Shabaab fighters attacked a Ugandan ATMIS military base. ATMIS, Somali and US forces plan on advancing further south as the counter-offensive against the group continues. These southern areas, specifically Middle and Lower Juba, are key locations for the terror group. It is expected that the severity of the fighting will increase, as Al-Shabaab desperately defend these important positions.

Intelligence also suggests that there is a small Islamic State presence in Somalia. The small force of around one hundred to two hundred fighters is located in Puntland. The report suggests the group is struggling to expand due to constant attacks by Al-Shabaab. In January, Islamic State in Somalia was hit hard after one of their chief finance officers was killed by the US. This hurt the group's massive network of financial hubs that they have across Africa. One aspect of the Islamic State in Somalia that the report focused on was the Al-Karrar Office, a financial hub that sends money to other affiliate groups. Some member states believe that the Al-Karrar Office is the financial backbone of the Islamic State, whilst others claim these numbers are overestimated. These other member states believe that the al-Furqan Office in West Africa is the real financial backbone of the group. 

ATMIS Soldiers in Somalia

Many member states also fear that terror groups will take advantage of the current instability in Sudan. Specifically, Islamic State. Since 2019, there has been an IS terror cell in the country led by Abu Bakr Al-Iraqi. Orders from the IS Core tasked the IS leader with creating a terror cell. The cell is believed to be made up of one hundred to two hundred members. Its main purpose seems to be a logistical one, though many member states fear this will change. The report also indicates that Al-Iraqi has set up several fake investment/money-transfer businesses registered in Sudan and Türkiye. Al-Iraqi has also made substantial investments in Sudanese businesses. 

The Ongoing Coup in Niger: What We Know

News has just broken that the President of Niger has been removed from power. Sources from within the nation report that the military is holding President Mohamed Bazoum in the presidential palace. Colonel Amadou Abdramane, surrounded by officers, read a statement declaring that the takeover is occurring due to the worsening security within the country. We previously reported that Boko Haram fighters were strengthening their forces in Niger, after being repelled from Niger by the stronger Islamic State of the Great Sahara. Since then, it appears more Islamic State fighters have been conducting attacks in the country, leading to a major security crisis. 

Colonel Abdramane also declared the country is on a nationwide lockdown, with all borders closed and a curfew being instated. In addition to this, the Colonel warned other nations to not get involved, stating that the situation is under control. This coup comes as a blow to the former French colony, as Bazoum was the first democratically elected president in the nation's history. His potential ousting from power is a strike against democracy in West Africa which; has seen six other coups since 2020. 

It is unclear whether the coup was successful or not, as of yet. A successful coup will come as a major blow to Western nations, that are actively fighting jihadism in Western Africa. Niger was a close ally of many European nations including France and Germany. Just last year, France moved many of its forces into Niger, after talks broke down with the Mali Government. Just this April, Germany announced a plan to improve Niger's armed forces. A successful coup would also be disastrous for the United States, who send hundreds of millions of dollars to the country to boost security capabilities. 

The situation in Niger is still unknown. Some unconfirmed reports on social media say that the Presidential Guards are behind the coup. It's believed the presidential palace and neighbouring Government building are being occupied by said guards. Military vehicles are currently blocking off all entrances to the building. So far, it seems the Presidential Guard does not have the support of the country's military. Bazoum's supporters tried to get close to the palace but guardsmen opened fire to disperse the crowd. The official Twitter account for the presidency declared that the guards were taking part in an 'anti-republican' demonstration. 

Once again, it is not known whether the coup has been successful or not. Another unconfirmed report from social media states that the Presidential Guards are alone in their occupation of the palace and that no other security service is involved. 

The Counter-Offensive Against Al-Shabaab: Is it Successful? 

Kenyan Security Forces

In Somalia, the fight against terror rages on. All cylinders are firing as the US, African Union and Somali fighters strike back against the terror organisation, Al-Shabaab. The US airstrikes remain a pivotal asset to the Somali Government. Their repeated success has previously incapacitated a leading member of the group. More recently, it has targeted Al-Shabaab encampments in rural Somalia. One strike, near Afmadow, left ten terror operatives dead. That same day (July 9th 2023), 40 kilometres away from Afmadow, joint Kenyan-Somali forces raided an Al-Shabaab weapons depot. The facility, which also acted as a bomb-making factory, was overrun in the early morning. Allied airstrikes supported the coordinated military operation that left 40 militants dead. Not only were weapons and explosives recovered from the site, but also 200,000 Kenyan Shillings (£1080 as of 2023). 

On the 12th of July, another Somali-Kenyan joint operation raided an Al-Shabaab hideout in Weelmarow village. The raid eliminated 50 militants and captured the Finance Chief in charge of the Lower Yuba area. It seems the current plan to eradicate Al-Shabaab is to stop its funding. A few weeks ago, we reported that Finance Chiefs were targeted by Somali forces. With another eliminated this week, the group is not only losing soldiers but also its revenue streams.

The following day, on the 13th of July, Somali special forces raided multiple Al-Shabaab hideouts across the Shabelle Region. It has not been disclosed how many suspects were arrested, but it is known that multiple arrests were made. That same day, Kenyan security agencies arrested two Tanzanian men attempting to join Al-Shabaab. They were found with notebooks which directed them to Al-Shabaab hideouts in Somalia. Upon interrogation, the suspects revealed they were recruited to the group by handlers in Tanzania. This demonstrates that Al-Shabaab has a wider, terror recruitment network that spans East Africa, which has gone unaffected by the counter-offensive. 

A Burnt Car Following the Attacks in Mandera

Following the relentless raids, it seems Al-Shabaab rushed to retaliate. On the 14th of July, multiple groups of terrorists began launching attacks across Mandera County in Northern Kenya. The first group targeted the only telephone mast in the town of Iresuki, whilst the second group targeted the Jabibar Quick Response Unit camp. The third attacked the Kenyan military base in Elwak. The final group launched an attack on the Waragud Police station. The ambush left two police officers and a teacher dead. After the attacks, the groups burnt parked cars in the street. A joint Kenyan security force mobilised immediately after being notified of the attacks. So far, only two suspects have been arrested for their involvement in the attacks. The two men were found at a construction site with weapons and large amounts of cash, that were stolen during the Mandela County attacks. 

A follow-up coordinated attack occurred across all of Somalia al occurred. These attacks started when a suicide bomber attacked the Hodan District in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. The Hodan District mostly housed military officers and their families. The attack injured two notable military leaders who had coordinated attacks against Al-Shabaab in the past. At the same time, militants attacked a security checkpoint in the Dayniile District of Mogadishu. They overrun the security forces stationed there and destroyed the checkpoint. 

In the Middle Shabelle, terrorists attacked an ATMIS (African Union Transition Mission in Somalia) base. Fortunately for the citizens of Somalia, ATMIS forces forced Al-Shabaab to retreat. In Lower Shabelle, IED attacks devasted local security forces. The number of casualties has not been released, but many fear it will be high. Further attacks occurred closer to the Kenyan border, with Al-Shabaab taking over the military base. Following an African Union protocol, The military base was handed back to Somali forces just a week ago. Experts believed that Somali forces could protect the area on their own. Now it sits under the control of terrorists.

Whilst continued success from Allied forces shows that Al-Shabaab can be easily combatted, the severity and unexpectedness of these retaliatory attacks demonstrate the power of the terror group. The summer counter-offensive has been successful on many fronts, but these attacks have been the biggest setback yet. The ongoing situation remains murky, with the full extent of the attacks not being revealed. It seems the following months of the counter-offensive will ramp up to curb subsequent, identical, nationwide attacks.