Somalia terror attack: Lessons the Indian subcontinent must learn about jihadi revenge strike
Somalia's capital Mogadishu was struck by a devastating terror attack last Sunday (October 14), something which confirms suspicions that terrorists in Africa are still hyperactive hitting out at their own sweet will and at sites of their choice.
The modus operandi was "innovative" as a truck, laden with explosives, was used to cause maximum damage and draw international attention towards the fact that dreaded terror outfit, al Shabab, is still active, contrary to the assessments that it has weakened in the recent past, and it's now back with full fury.
The terror strike killed as many as 320 people and security experts in Africa have described it as 9/11 of Africa as there has not been so many loss of lives in one terror incident in the continent.
We in the subcontinent are largely oblivious of the fact about the happenings in that part of the world which look insignificant with no bearings in this region. Yet, terror is terror, and Africa, though impoverished and backward, equally (or perhaps more) deserves attention. Somalia, in particular, been battling terror, hunger and instability for the past three decades. The perpetrators of the dastardly act has blamed the Trump administration in the US for its renewed fight against terror incurring the wrath of the terrorists causing the attack.
Al Shabab, the terror outfit infamous for links with al Qaeda and its involvement in daring piracy cases in the Indian Ocean, looked dormant. However, after the Mogadishu blasts, it's clear that al Qaeda and its affiliate, al Shabab, continue to be a "force to reckon with".
Dwelling specifically upon the modus operandi of the attack, explosives were used and what's worrying is the fact that the terrorists have succeeded in stealing them in large quantity from AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) - the peace keeping mission with a strong force of nearly 20,000. How could explosives of such enormity be stolen from a peace keeping body and be manipulated without the complicity of this entity?
The truck which carried the explosives detonated a bit prematurely, at Sinka Dheer, around seven kilometres off Mogadishu. The casualties were much higher as the blast led to a fire because of a petrol tanker parked in the close vicinity. Critics are blaming the security agencies for being lax as the truck with explosives, hidden under stacks of rice, sugar and other commodities, passed through the check points without raising any suspicion.
Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo assumed office in February this year and his priority has been to contain al Shabab and the terror unleashed by it. Undoubtedly, the president is serious about tackling terror, but given the resource crunch of Somalia, especially with a long history of bloody track record, it is not yet equipped or its forces adequately trained to handle the menace all alone. The US had been using drones to hit out at al Shabab targets, but obviously that's not enough as it failed to deter the lethal explosion carried out with immense precision.
Under these circumstances, what's important and imperative now is a concerted game plan and strategy to combat terror. Sadly, that's missing as AQAP (Al Qaeda Arab Peninsula) seems to be asserting its presence in the region. More vital is the need for a beefed-up intelligence and effective coordination between African states under the aegis of African Union (AU). Actionable intelligence-sharing is a must.
I have been the national security advisor (NSA) to the Prime Minister of Mauritius in not so distant past. During that tenure, intelligence-sharing among the Indian Ocean countries with active participation of western countries' intelligence agencies was more of a routine than an exception. Special focus was on Kenya too. Hopefully, the drill still continues, but perhaps due to decline in cases of piracy, it is possible that the intelligence-sharing mechanism has now diluted to some extent.
Kenya finds particular mention here as its military is committed in Somalia collaborating with the Somalian military to uproot al Shabab-led terror. In September 2013, Kenyan capital Nairobi saw deadly terror attacks in Westside Mall claiming hundreds of lives. Threat still looms large and the recent Mogadishu strike is a wake-up call to to prevent further attacks. Kenya's tourist spot of Mombasa, not far from Mogadishu, remains vulnerable as it had also in the past borne the brunt of terror onslaught.
On the whole, therefore, the African region stays vulnerable and prone to terror.
The recent issue of well-known political weekly, The Economist, has vehemently criticised the Somalian government for its "failure" to tackle terror. The charge is far from being true. The government of Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo is yet to complete one year in office and it's easier for the western media to blame a government in Africa.
When advanced countries like France, Belgium and Turkey etc, have failed miserably in preventing terror attacks, be it the Charlie Hebdo shooting or the deadly assaults in Brussels and Istanbul airports, it would appear unfair to criticise Somalia.
Instead, it would augur well if western countries come forward and hold Somalia's hand to jointly fight terror. This appears more important with IS control over Raqqa just over, IS fighters could possibly look to take refuge in the fragile African frontiers and further add to the ongoing terror activities. This factor merits attention.
Also, countries in the Indian subcontinent should learn from the Mogadishu attack and strengthen its security apparatus keeping in mind the modus operandi of al Shabab.
Al Shabab may not strike at targets here, but its pattern of working could be emulated by terrorists familiar with the terrain of the Indian subcontinent.