Nairobi DusitD2 hotel attacked by suspected militants
This was a temporary separate thread until merged on 29/1/2019 into the main thread (it had eights posts with 300 views). Might it turn into another Westgate Mall Charlie Foxtrot.
Quote:
Suspected militants have attacked a luxury hotel complex in Nairobi, killing a number of people.
Gunfire and blasts were heard at the compound in the Westlands district of the Kenyan capital, which houses the DusitD2 hotel as well as offices.
The Somalia-based militant group al-Shabab said it was behind the attack.
People, some covered in blood, were led out of the complex by police. Late on Tuesday the government said all buildings had been secured.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46880375
Why Al-Shabaab survives in Somalia
A topical commentary on Al-Shabaab in Somalia, two good maps of activity in 2017 and 2018. This comment explains why they retain popular support:
Quote:
Al Shabaab’s attacks make headlines, but the al Qaeda group offers something real to local Somalis. Perhaps incredibly, the group provides more efficient and less corrupt governance than the Somali Federal Government in some areas. Many Somalis
prefer al Shabaab’s justice over the Somali courts—even
traveling from government-controlled areas to al Shabaab-held areas to
seek justice. Al Shabaab courts deliver a verdict faster and are more likely to enforce it. This benefit allows al Shabaab to maintain support and attack zones, despite U.S. airstrikes.
Link:https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/fight-against-al-shabaab-isnt-over?
This post will be cross-posted on the main Somalia thread:http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...)-2018-onwards
Kenya has its own thread, where thsi thread will e merged one day:http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ya-(catch-all)
Could Kenya have prevented the hotel siege?
IMHO a good review of why, although from a faraway armchair/ It ends:
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Yet again, Kenya has suffered a big loss and as its people come to terms with this week's events they will wonder why it has to take catastrophe for more lessons to be learned.
Link:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-46921249
Nairobi slum reveals the vast challenges facing Africa's megacities
A rare descriptive article on African urbanization and in The Daily Telegraph too. The dilemma is acute now, let alone in the future:
Quote:
Slum life is therefore overcrowded, wretched, dangerous and — because of high levels of unemployment — often violent. With many African cities now consisting of increasingly prosperous pockets surrounded by vast swathes of resentful indigence, political insecurity is also a risk.
Link:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/nairobi-slum-reveals-vast-challenges-facing-africas-megacities/?