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On 27 November 2022, during the night hours, the Villa Rose Hotel in Mogadishu came under siege. The hotel, located next to the Presidential Palace and well inside Mogadishu's Green Zone, serves as a frequent workplace for Somalia's president, as well as other high-ranking politicians.
No other militant group in the world target hotels more than al Shabaab, and this claimed, complex attack, beginning with a suicide bombing (VBIED) followed by an armed assault lasting more than 20 hours, is straight out of al Shabaab's playbook. It marks the 4th hotel assault this year by the militant group and this particular attack is said to have claimed the lives of 15 in total, including one soldier, eight civilians and six militants.
Among the deceased was a British civilian, Mohamed Sayid Hassan Elmi from Birmingham. Elmi, reportedly having been in Somalia for two weeks, was shot dead by the gunmen inside the hotel along with two other visitors, Sheikh Abdulqadir Abdullahi Ahmed Seed and Sheikh Jamal Mohamed Ubahle, who also arrived in Mogadishu from Birmingham for a family reunion.
This attack also comes on the heels of two highly strategic attacks occurring only days before. On 25 November, al Shabaab militants targeted a Somali Army base in Qaayib village, detonating three Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs) and deploying around 15 suicide bombers. Contrary to the declared battle victory by state media, al Shabaab released a 45-image photoset from the attack showing weapons, ammunitions, vehicles and military equipment, all of which gives a clear indication that this was a re-supply mission.
The following day, on 26 November, the group detonated a roadside Improvised Explosive Device (IED) targeting Somalian Special Forces in the Ailsha area of Mogadishu. This attack resulted in the death of 12 special forces elements of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
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Of particular note about the hotel siege, that came a day later, is the fact that Mogadishu’s Green Zone is surrounded by checkpoints and security forces and easy accessibility to ordinary citizens is non-existent. It is said to be the most secure area of the Capital, although al Shabaab is able to regularly attack within the Green Zone. The consistent attacks not only showcases the ineptitude of Somalia’s security forces, but also confirms TRAC's assertion that al Shabaab has infiltrated the Somali Forces’ ranks and gained moles for the militant group through security personnel insiders.
Other reports revealed that in the night hours, supposedly while the siege was taking place, Somalia’s President Mohamud was moved to a secure shelter located in the heavily fortified Halane compound. The following morning, while still at this compound and amid the ongoing chaos at Villa Rose Hotel, Mohamud attended a national investment conference along with a number of foreign diplomats, calling on locals and foreigners to invest in Somalia.
Meanwhile, as reported last week, the Somali military, in a show of sheer desperation, is giving local residents in the Middle Shabelle Region weapons and subpar training to support the military in combatting al Shabaab.
TRAC contends that al Shabaab is at its strongest point ever in its history. For the past five years, Shabaab has been recruiting, training and gathering arms under very little pressure from the SNA. They claim almost daily attacks across Somalia.
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TRAC Insight:
The ‘Minister of Islamic State’, Parviz Saidrakhmonov with the
alias Abu Dovud Tochik, is on Trial in Tajikistan
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Image: Parviz Saidrakhmonov, also known as Abu Dovud Tochiki | |
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The trial of the so called “Minister of War” of Islamic State (IS) is currently taking place in Tajikistan. Parviz Saidrakhmonov, also known as Abu Dovud Tochiki, is 35 years old and has been charged with terrorism, murder, kidnapping, recruiting, and engaging in hostilities on behalf of the group. The jihadist is set to receive a sentence of 25 years to life. The militant was returned from Turkey a month ago.
It is noteworthy that the terrorist was found in a jail run by pro-Turkish insurgents in the canton of Afrin in 2019. A year later, a representative of Tajikistan’s prosecutor general declared that Saidrakhmonov should be tried and Dushanbe should be transported back to his own country.
Saidrakhmonov is well known from dozens of propaganda videos he recorded for Islamic State (IS) supporters. In them, he appealed to Islamists who supported jihadists and urged them to travel to Iraq and Syria to fight alongside IS, as he is also a combatant with extensive experience. He also recognized the difficulties of traveling to Syria and Iraq for certain persons, and therefore encouraged followers to carry out terrorist acts within their countries of residence.
He worked together with Gulmorod Khalimov, a former colonel of the Tajik OMON. His most recent appeal was noted in May 2018 when he called for terrorist strikes on the FIFA World Cup Russian venues in 2018. He was added to the global most-wanted list by Interpol that same year, at Russia’s request.
Saidrakhmonov and his group were successful in enticing a number of people to participate in criminal activity in Russia. However, the suddenly visible IS sympathisers who were organizing terrorist operations were successfully neutralized by the Russian special services. Authorities in Sweden believe Saidrakhmonov was involved in planning the terrorist assault that occurred in Stockholm in April 2017.
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TRAC Incident Report:
Unidentified Plane Drops Bomb on Cotton Factory Housing
Wagner and CAR Forces in Bossangoa, Ouham Prefecture,
Central African Republic (CAR)
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Image: Top of letter from CAR Ministry of Communication | |
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Around 2:50 am local time on 28 November 2022 , an unidentified plane flying with its lights switched off so as to evade detection, dropped a bomb on the cotton mill housing Wagner and CAR Forces in Bossangoa, Ouham Prefecture, Central African Republic (CAR). Contrary to what was declared by the government, according to the mayor “there is not too much damage.”
The cotton processing plant bombed by the plane has long hosted various military forces ranging from French military soldiers to United Nations MINUSCA forces. Most recently, since 2021, the plants hosts Central African Armed Forces (FACA) and PMC Wagner forces.
The Russian-based Wagner has a known presence in the Central African Republic (CAR). Like in other parts of Africa, particularly South Africa, Russian propaganda coupled with the desperation of the locals have led to growing support for Russia across the continent, as people view Russia (and in some cases, China) as their great saviors come to rescue them from the poverty and corruption that plagues many failed African states.
It should be noted that this is the first time that a suspected attack by a hostile aircraft has occurred, at least since the civil war began in 2013. Relations are tense between the Central African Republic and neighboring Chad. Since winning its independence from France in 1960, the Central African Republic (CAR) has had a checkered history of coups, military strongmen, poor governance as well as being a victim of its geography.
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TRAC Incident Report:
Palestinian Based Mujahideen Brigades Targeted the Al-Jalama Checkpoint in an IED Attack, West Bank, Palestine Territories
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Image: Image: Top of Mujahideen Brigades Statement of Claim | |
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On 27 November 2022, Gaza Strip-based Mujahideen Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement, released a statement claiming responsibility for an IED attack. According to the statement, the attack took place in the late evening, approximately 11:25 pm local time, on 26 November 2022 and multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were being thrown directly at an al-Jalama checkpoint in the northern area of the West Bank.
Along with a statement of claim, the group also released video footage of the attack. In the video, the perpetrator can be seen throwing some type of explosive device, resembling a cross between a grenade and a Molotov cocktail. It was clear that the device had to be lit prior to throwing it, but its detonation had a bit of a delay as a grenade would.
TRAC notes that this marks the first attack by the group after a considerable timeframe, and the first we have heard anything from the group in over two years.
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TRAC Incident Report: Bandits Threatened to Attack Gold Dealers and Miners Unless They Accept to Pay a 10% Levy of the Mines Output, Kwali, Bukuyum LGA, Zamfara State, Nigeria | |
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TRAC INSIGHT:
AQIM, JNIM & ISGS
Hold 8 Western Hostages
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