Kenya: Attack in Mandera county December 25

Event

Unidentified armed men launched a grenade attack at a security checkpoint located in the town of Mandera (Mandera county) on Tuesday, December 25. At least four police officers were injured in the attack. The identity of the assailants remains unclear, although Al-Shabaab is highly suspected. Further such attacks are possible in the near-term.

Context

Al-Shabaab continues to regularly carry out attacks near the porous border with Somalia as well as in coastal areas in retaliation for Kenya's participation in a multi-national force fighting Al-Shabaab in Somalia since 2011. Chakama is located about 300 km (185 mi) southwest of the Somali border, and 60 km (40 mi) from the coastal tourist resort of Malindi.

Advice

Due to various security concerns, many Western governments advise against travel to a number of regions in the country, including areas bordering Somalia (parts of Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, and Lamu counties), Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Nonessential travel to the city of Mombasa and several Nairobi neighborhoods (including Eastleigh and Pangani) is also advised against.