Al-Shabab Attacks Kenyan Police

According to the police, a suspected attack by the Somalia-based rebel group al-Shabab resulted in the destruction of a vehicle, leading to the deaths of eight Kenyan police officers.

The incident occurred in Garissa county, located in eastern Kenya near the border with Somalia. Al-Shabab has been engaged in a violent rebellion against the fragile government in Mogadishu for over 15 years. Regional Commissioner John Otieno stated that they suspect al-Shabab’s involvement, as the group has been targeting both security forces and passenger vehicles.

This attack follows Ethiopia’s recent announcement of foiling a suicide attack by al-Shabab in the town of Dollo. Kenya initially deployed troops to Somalia in 2011 to combat the group and has since been a significant contributor to an African Union military operation against al-Shabab.

However, Kenya has faced retaliatory assaults, including the infamous Westgate Mall siege in Nairobi in 2013 and the attack on Garissa University in 2015. Despite a major offensive launched against them, al-Shabab continues to carry out deadly attacks in Somalia, including the assault on an AU base that resulted in the deaths of 54 Ugandan peacekeepers on May 26, according to President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda.