Al-Shabaab fighters die while planting IED in Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya - Two Al-Shabaab militants died on Tuesday while planting Improvised Explosive Devices [IEDs] in Kenya on Tuesday, security teams in Northeastern Kenya confirmed, in yet an attempt to derail operations against their activities on Kenyan soil which is proving rather futile.

According to the reports, the two were assembling and planting the IEDs at Amuma area in the Northeastern part of the East African nation, before they exploded, killing them instantly. Security officers were stationed within the vicinity and thus were the targets.

For the last few months, security sources say, cases of IEDs have significantly reduced thanks to the security mobilization in the region which has borne fruits. The security teams have also been blocking the militants from carrying out attacks.

The explosion comes a few weeks after Kenya started deploying elite Special Forces from the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] to Wajir, Mandera, Garissa and Lamu counties, where Al-Shabaab had heightened IED attacks. For the better part of last week, most of these troops reported.

The government security agencies have also been wooing locals to embrace the sharing of intelligence with security teams to combat Al-Shabaab raids. The KDF team has constructed several Forward Operating Bases along the border which would be hosting most troops in the troubled border.

Al-Shabaab dominance is being challenged following the launching of operations against them in Somalia, which have left thousands of them dead. The Al-Shabaab would be facing yet another tussle in Jubaland and Southwest states once the second phase of operations is launched.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been encouraging locals to join the fight, with the national army also getting back up from the US Africa Command and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS]. However, ATMIS has started initiating tactical withdrawal despite protests by the government of Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE