DATE AND TIME PUBLISHED : 25/5/2021 (TUESDAY), 5.45PM
WRITTEN BY : KAM2284D
2. INTAN NAZIFA BINTI JONID (2020899312)
3. SITI NAJIHA BINTI SHAIFUL NIZAM (2020862062)
4. MUHAMMAD ILHAM BIN MOHD AZHARI (2020608314)
5. AZREEN SHAHIRA BINTI MD ASRI (2020483726)
Topic: Al-Shabaab Hotel Siege In Nairobi
1.0 Introduction
Al-Shabaab is also known as Ash-Shabaab, Hizbul Shabaab or the Youth Party. The term 'Shabaab' means "youth" [Anderson, 2021]. Al-Shabaab, which means "Youth" in Arabic, is the largest militant organization fighting the Somali government. The group sought to establish a new Somali state ruled according to its strict interpretation of Sharia law. Although based in Somalia, Al-Shabaab has also carried out attacks in neighbouring countries, such as Kenya. Al-Shabaab emerged as an independent organization around December 2006 after breaking away from the Union of Islamic Courts (ICU), which had served as a military wing. Al-Shabaab is an affiliate organization of Al-Qaeda based in Somalia [Organizations, 2019]. The group seeks to overthrow the territories in Somalia to establish a society based on its strict interpretation of Sharia law. While based in Somalia, Al-Shabaab also carried out attacks in neighbouring countries, particularly in Kenya. Al-Shabaab emerged as an independent organization around December 2006 after breaking away from the Union of Islamic Courts (ICU), which had long served as a military wing. Since the late 2000s, Al-Shabaab has had close ties with Al Qaeda and sought to frame the Somali struggle as part of the global jihad movement. The group has carried out bombings, suicide attacks and armed attacks, against targets of the Somali government, Christians, private civilians, foreign troops, diplomats and aid workers or non-governmental organizations [Organizations, 2019].
Al-Shabaab is known as a militant group has opposed Kenya’s involvement in the Somalia Civil War. Previously, this group of terrorist attacked the suburb of Westlands during the 2013 Westgate shopping mall attack. This incident has left 67 people dead. In 2015, Al-Shabaab terrorists were involved in a mass shooting of Garissa College University students that left 147 dead and many others injured. The incident was the worst terrorist attack in the country since the bombing of the United States embassy in 1998, which left more than 200 people dead [Hugo999, 2021]. The motive of Al-Shabaab, where they are claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released during the attack. They claimed that the attack was "a response to United States President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel" [Nairobi DusitD2 complex attack, 2021]. Jerusalem is a holy place for Islam, Christianity and Judaism. When Donald Trump recognizes Jerusalem as a capital of Israel, Muslims around the world having rage from the Donald Trump’s recognition. No one has right to rule over Jerusalem. Supposedly, Jerusalem should be a free state and holy city for Muslims, Christians and Jewish. No one deserves or has right to rule over Jerusalem in order to maintain peace among these three religion. This matter make the group of Al-Shabaab to act violently by causing terrorism activities such as suicide bombing and mass shootings.
2.0 AL-SHABAAB HOTEL SIEGE IN NAIROBI (WHAT, WHY, WHERE, WHO)
A group of Al-Shabaab militants carried out a devastating attack on a Nairobi office complex that also houses the Dusit D2 luxury hotel on January 15, 2019. During the night time siege, 21 individuals were killed and at least 28 more were injured (Bryden et al., 2019). Sixteen Kenyans, one Briton, one American, and three unidentifiable persons of African ancestry are among the deceased, according to Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett. (Sevenzo et al., 2019)
One of the attackers entered the premises at 14 Riverside Drive soon before 1530 hours and positioned himself in a grassy area near the Secret Garden restaurant. The man appears to be disturbed on CCTV footage, pacing back and forth and chatting into his phone. A client on his way to the restaurant, Abdullahi Ogello, overheard him inquiring where the others were. The terrorist's suicide vest exploded seconds later, at 1528, killing him and numerous other restaurant patrons. The remaining assailants alighted from a car at the front gate, equipped with Kalashnikov-pattern assault weapons, hand grenades, and magazine pouches with extra ammo, even before the smoke from the blast had dissipated. They opened fire on the guards and launched hand grenades, setting fire to many parked vehicles as they neared the compound's main entrance. The assailants then split into two groups, each taking a different way further inside the facility. One team went to the Hanover office building's main entrance, while the other went to the back of the building, past the bomber's remains, and entered through a back door beside the restaurant.
They moved to the further end of the campus, where the Cavendish office complex contained numerous organisations engaged in development work in Somalia, after superficially clearing the first office building, advancing floor by floor, shooting and tossing grenades. They entered the Dusit D2 Hotel in the centre of the compound after sweeping the office tower. Kenyan security forces and other first responders arrived on the location around 1600 hours, aiming to locate and apprehend the gunmen, while others helped trapped residents flee. Al-Shabaab claimed credit for the attack on Twitter shortly before 1700 hours, less than an hour and a half after it began. The siege lasted through the night, with the final assailants declared dead by 0800 the next morning. Kenya's president, Uhuru Kenyatta, declared the attack ended two hours later, claiming that more than 700 people had been evacuated from the compound. Within days after the Dusit attack, authorities identified some of the attackers, including Ali Salim Gichunge, dubbed "Farouk," as the alleged squad commander. ‘Farouk,' a 26-year-old from Nyeri in central Kenya, was sent to Isiolo to study at a Catholic school, where his sister alleges, he was radicalised. Eric Kinyanjui, who was apparently born in Isiolo but lived in Limuru, close outside Nairobi, was also named by police.
Mahir Riziki, the suicide bomber outside the Secret Garden restaurant, was the third Dusit attacker to be identified by authorities. Riziki, unlike ‘Farouk' and Kinyanjui, was a well-known radical with a violent past. Riziki had attended Mombasa's Masjid Musa, where he met Sheikh Ramadhan Kufungwa and was recruited into al-Shabaab, according to police. Riziki fled Kenya in November 2014 to avoid being arrested in connection with the assassination of a police officer at the Royal Court Hotel in Mombasa. Riziki phoned family members in Somalia to inform them that he was training with al-Shabaab after a brief stay in Tanzania. Based on following circumstances, it appears that Riziki reunited with Kufungwa while in Somalia. Riziki re-entered Kenya just two days before the Dusit assault, on January 13, 2019, through Somalia's Gedo area, Elwak in Mandera County, Takaba (near Moyale), and Marsabit town, when he took a Moyale Raha bus to Nairobi. When he landed in Nairobi, he went straight to Muchatha, on the outskirts of the city, to meet up with ‘Farouk' and get instructions on his part in the planned operation. He would be dead in less than 48 hours.
Al-Shabaab claimed credit for the incident a day after it happened, issuing a statement in Arabic and English titled "Al-Qudsu Lan Tuhawwad" ("Jerusalem Will Never Be Judaized"). The operation, according to the statement, was carried out “in accordance with the directions of Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri, in attacking western and Zionist interests globally and in support of our Muslim relatives in Palestine,” in retaliation to the US government's designation of Jerusalem as Israel's capital (Bryden et al., 2019).
3.0 REVIEW
3.1 CHALLENGES
3.1.1 Neighbouring with the country that has militant group
Political relationship between Kenya and Somalia is unstable. If they want to achieve peace is difficult because the dispute between these two countries has been happened for years. Even then, the involvement of Kenya and Somalia Civil War makes the disputes becomes worse. People in Kenya will feel threatened and insecure when they are neighbouring and living near with a country that has militant groups. Attacks can occur at any time which can be life threatening and various properties or facilities will be destroyed. The people are in fear as war breaks out between Kenya and Somalia. This is due to strained political relations between these two countries. This is because militant group has no sympathy to anyone when they want to attacked. This make people of Kenya become more fear to be leaving near Somalia. [Organizations, 2019]
3.1.2 Weak security by Kenya Government
Kenya government should enforce the immigration system more strictly. The immigration needs to monitor all the movement of visitors and tourists that come into the Kenya. The police or army of Kenya should be more alert and be integrity in carrying out their duties. The issue is how the weapon of the militant can get into the Kenya without any inspection when Nairobi DusitD2 complex attack happened? [Hugo999, 2021] Perhaps, there was an insider that gave authority like police force, military force and others in smuggling the weapon by accepting bribery that can lead to corruption. By then, this issue encourages militant group to act courageously to get into Kenya to attack and do terrorism. Customs department also plays an important roles in checking and inspect every item brought by the visitors from outside. Weak security can threaten the organization itself and all citizens of Kenya, if security control is not conducted systematically. We are going through the era of digitalisation which is more modern, so people can access every information, if the information is not be strongly secured. Cyber security must be stringently enforced, so that no outsider can trace any data from the Kenya’s cyber security information.
3.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF AL-SHABAAB HOTEL SIEGE IN NAIROBI
In a two-page statement, the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist organisation Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack. The event resembles 2013 Al-Shabaab's attack on Nairobi's Westgate Mall, in which terrorists staged a long siege that resulted in the deaths of 67 people. Al-Shabab militants targeted foreigners as well as high-profile Kenyan companies and offices in both cases. Despite being mostly active in neighbouring Somalia, the organisation has carried out multiple assaults in Kenya over the last eight years, killing hundreds of people. Al-Shabab extremists attacked Garissa University in 2015, murdering over 150 people in the county's bloodiest attack. Furthermore, the DusitD2 incident on 15 January 2019 marks the three-year anniversary of an al-Shabab attack on a Kenyan military facility in Somalia, in which almost 200 soldiers were killed, confirming the group's active involvement in mass casualty assaults on Kenyan civilian and military facilities. Since 2011, when Kenyan forces were deployed into Somalia to confront the terrorist organisation, Al-Shabab has aggressively attempted to strike Kenyan objectives in both Somalia and Kenya.
The attack on the DusitD2 complex and hotel was thought to be aimed against a US conference at Gem Suites, which had 180 US people in attendance. This is bolstered by the fact that a slew of other high-profile business hotels is within a one-kilometre radius of the incident, all of which are expected to be hosting conferences and a big number of westerners. The increased number of recent US airstrikes attacking Al-Shabab in Somalia correlates to the overwhelming targeting of US assets. In 2018, there were 47 US strikes, with only five so far for the year 2019. Indeed, Al-Shabab mentioned US President Donald Trump and his decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital in their statement claiming responsibility for the attack, implying that the D2 attack was retaliatory in character. (Constellis, 2019)
The incident was clearly in the planning phases well before the US government made its decision, the Dusit Hotel brand is Thai-owned with no discernible connection to either Israel or the US, and just one American was among the fatalities. Instead, the allusion to Ayman al-Zawahiri is a cynical appropriation of global jihadi narratives to undermine the impression that al-Shabaab is a genuinely Somali group with provincial, essentially nationalist ambitions. It might also be meant to emphasise the dominance of Al-Qaeda at a time when its jihadi competitor, the Islamic State, is attempting to spread its influence across Africa. Key components of the attack at Riverside Park, in contrast to its high bombast, place it more solidly in the context of al-regional Shabaab's expansion plan and long-standing goals for Kenya. Al-Shabaab’s high-profile strikes on Kenya usually seek to highlight the group's importance, instil fear in the public, and erode public support for the Kenyan Defense Forces' involvement in Somalia. The actual significance of the Dusit operation in terms of Al-Shabaab's regional threat does not lay in the organization's Somali origins, its growing number of Kenyan supporters, or its al-Qaida allegiance. The revival of East Africa's jihadi "triple helix" should be a matter of worry, the sum of the three. (Bryden et al., 2019)
3.3 FACTOR OF THE ATTACK
3.3.1 A response to US President decision to recognize Jerusalem the capital of Israel.
It was believed that the terrorist group of Al-Shabaab’s target during the 2019 attack of DusitD2 area was a US conference located at Gem Suites. Here, a total of 180 foreigners from United States had attended. Many westerners were also conducting conference in that Nairobi area or within 1 KM radium from the incident of the attack (Sanchez-Garrido, 2019). After the incident of DusitD2 attack happened, Al-Shabaab had made a statement to claim that the operation had been staged in accordance with another foreign terrorist group, Al-Qaeda’s order to demand retaliation upon the US embassy relocation from Israel to Jerusalem (Muindi, 2020). This is due to a statement made by the US President Donald Trump’s decision in 2017, “to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel”. Due to this, the terrorist group, Al-Shabaab had focused on targets such as Zionist and Western worldwide in order to support the Muslim families located in Palestine (Sevenzo, Karimi, & Smith-Spark, 2019).
However, as compared to the attack of Westgate, there was not much information from Al-Shabaab on Twitter platform. Al-Shabaab switched to a media that was traditional with the target of Somalis ethnic and audiences in the international level. The terrorist group, Al-Shabaab claimed for the attack by an issuance of statement on 15 January published on a website pro to Al-Shabaab. The statement made was focused on the connection of Palestine issues. Later, another content was published on the website that pro to Al-Shabaab. The content was a reporter quoted a statement which made claim that the attack happened due to “revenge against the abuse of Muslims” for those living in north eastern and coastal regions of Kenya (Muindi, 2020).The incident in 2019 which was DusitD2 attack was similar to the previous activity of the terrorist group called Al-Shabaab in both Somalia and Kenya. According to a CCTV footage covering the area of DusitD2 compound by Kenyan security forces, the CCTV showed a total number of at least five men that were heavily armed entered the complex of DusitD2. From here, it shows that the regular modus operandi of Al-Shabaab are explosives and armed members (Sanchez-Garrido, 2019).
3.4 THE IMPACTS HOTEL SIEGE IN NAIROBI (DUSITD2 HOTEL) ATTACKS TOWARDS KENYA
3.4.1 Strict Media Coverage
The public of Kenya and local media were overwhelmed with admiration due to the security operation conducted during the overall incident of hotel siege. A tone of patriotic was shown due to the overwhelmed admiration. Commentaries that were positive and editorial were published by using the media nationally. However, in order to not leak additional information to the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, some of the reported reports were told to not publish any images as it might help the extremist group in any way possible (Muindi, 2020). According to a respondent, the conduct of media was measured in an extreme manner. This is due to various factors and one of it is the extreme fear of promoting the terrorist group called Al-Shabaab. A number of houses of media had introduced controls internally in order to assist the media coverage regarding the major terrorism incidents. This strict policy had led to a culture of self-awareness when it comes to self-censorship in regards to the coverage by the local subjecting to terrorism.
The journalists whom covered the news regarding the terrorist incident avoided reporting in depth due to the sensitive topic security. According to the former Editor of Investigations, all messages by all parties during the DusitD2 incident was extremely superior as compared to the other incident which was Westgate. This time around, all comments by the personnel of government security were considered and measured first. This policy of measuring the content published was proven to be effective. This is because, during the Westgate incident, the civilian posted critical content and this kind of content was absent and got replaced by positive tributes to the security forces and solidarity pledges was shown. This is clearly a success made by the government regarding communication strategy upon DusitD2 attack (Muindi, 2020).
3.4.2 Tourism Industry Were Not Affected Badly
It was predicted that the attack happened in DusitD2 hotel will have impact that is minimal on tourism to Kenya and in the event of any setbacks occur by the visitors arrival will last for a total of less than two weeks. An opinion made by ForwardKeys based on the analysis during the Westgate attack in 2013 which is a similar incident of terrorist. During the 2013 attack, there was a huge impact on international bookings of flight and arrival physically. However, the affects only lasted for a total of 6 weeks. What happened was, during this 2013 attack at Westgate, the international booking has dropped to 64.6% during the first week. As compared to the previous year, 2012, the bookings of international were 29.0% lower during 2013. However, after the 6 weeks period, the number of bookings increased in November. In Comparison between the 2019 (DusitD2) and 2013 (Westgate) attack, the rate of fatality was lesser in 2019 and the attack ended quickly as compared to the 2013 incident. This means that the media coverage for the 2019 attack is fewer (Töre, 2019). The hotel of DusitD2 reopened in August 1, 2019 after a total of six months renovation. Upon the first opening since the incident of the terrorist attack on January 2019, according to Michael Metaxas, general manager of DusitD2 Nairobi, “the reopening of the hotel had gone smoothly and the level of security have improved to be top notch”. According to Chris Mears, chief executive officer of African Travel and Tourism Association, it was expected that the concerned tour operators would call. However, this did not happen and the market is very high which leads to the Kenya Tourism Boards claimed that arrivals were increasing (Holmes & Skift, 2019).
3.5 RECOMMENDATION
3.5.1 TIGHTENING MONITORING AND PATROLS BY SECURITY FORCES.
The security forces need to tighten more control and patrol in areas with high civilian capacity. If an unforeseen situation occurs, the police or security involved can take action by doing a few procedure first. Among the procedure that can be done in Nairobi is to restrict the movement of all staff to the Westlands area in Nairobi, and other high profile international places such as hotels, shopping malls and conference centers while the short term risk of further attacks. This is because the action to be carried out by the armed police is very high and dangerous. In that case the member Al-shabaab may also be able to carry out random attacks and endanger the lives of others. (Beatriz Sanchez-Garrido, 2019)
Furthermore, the security forces can be vigilant and must persevere while the potential for criminals to carry out attacks is still high. In addition, the patrols conducted can reduce the number of deaths that will occur if there is a terrorist attack. Therefore, the authorities need to direct patrols and monitoring must be tightened to maintain public safety in addition to places that have a high risk of criminal cases.
3.5.2 INCREASE THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE MEDICAL TEAM TO ARRIVE AT THE LOCATION AND BE READY TO TREAT.
Medical and emergency teams need to act better to arrive at the scene more quickly and treat patients. They also need to be prepared to accept more people who are injured when unexpected incidents occur.The authorities must ensure that emergency management and evacuation plans are up to date for Kenya and regional operations. Although less common than activity in Somalia and Kenya, insurgent groups have demonstrated their intent to carry out attacks in regional hubs such as Kampala and Addis Ababa and may seek to replicate the successes of the Nairobi attack in other regions over the coming weeks according (Beatriz Sanchez-Garrido, 2019)
Therefore, the information provided to the emergency department must be accurate and prompt for the care of the patient. If such things are ignored, the number of deaths for an incident will definitely be more severe and depressing. This is also no exception with other rescue units that need to play a role in resolving such issues. In conclusion, if the responsible party makes a good decision to prevent the problem from happening especially involving armed rebel groups, the issue of shootings can be avoided as well as turned off by the police.
4.0 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Al-Shabaab Hotel Siege in Nairobi that happened in 15th January 2019 can be considered as act of terrorism. Al-Shabaab were claimed responsible for the accidents that happened on that day due to the caused of it to happen has linked with their group. The tragedy that happen at 14 Riverside Drive complex, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya which has caused injury and death, shows that this group of terrorist does not have humanity within themselves. Using attack such as suicide bombing and mass shootings also shows that Al-Shabaab will use any kind of strategies as long as their goals are been achieve without care or value the life of others that involved during those actions were taken. Because of the threats faced by Kenya, it would be better to take preventive actions such as tightening the security and increase the intelligence of medical teams in order to reduce the impact of the attack, in case, in the future, the attack were launch again. By doing so, the chances of the same incidents to happen again can be reduce.
5.0 REFERENCES
Bryden, M., & Bahra, P. (2019). East Africa’s Terrorist Triple Helix: The Dusit Hotel Attack and
the Historical Evolution of the Jihadi Threat. Combating Terrorism Center at West Point: CTCSentinel. Retrieved May 23, 2021, from https://ctc.usma.edu/east-africas-terrorist-triple-helix-dusit-hotel-attack-historical-evolution-jihadi-threat/
Constellis, (2019, January 17). Nairobi DusitD2 Attack Post-Incident Report. Retrieved May
Holmes, R., & Skift. (2019, August 19). Kenya Tourism Shows Its Resilience After January’s Nairobi Attack. Retrieved from Skift: https://skift.com/2019/08/16/kenya-tourism-shows-its-resilience-after-januarys-nairobi-attack/
Muindi, M. (2020). Mitigating The Impact of Media Reporting of Terrorism Case Study of Government Communication During Westgate and DusitD2. Europe: International Centre for Counter-Terrorism - The Hague.
Sanchez-Garrido, B. (2019). Nairobi DusitD2 Attack 17 January 2019. United States: Caunstellis.
Sevenzo, F., Karimi, F., & Smith-Spark, L. (2019, January 17). At least 21 killed as Kenya hotel siege is declared over. Retrieved from CNN Style: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/16/africa/kenya-hotel-complex-terror-attack/index.html
Sevenzo, F., Karimi, F., & Smith-Spark, L. (2019, January 17). At least 21 killed as Kenya hotel siege is declared over. CNN News. Retrieved May 24, 2021, from https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/16/africa/kenya-hotel-complex-terror-attack/index.html
Töre, Ö. (2019, January 18). Impact of Terrorist Attack on the DusitD2 Hotel in Nairobi on Tourism. Retrieved from ftn NEWS: https://ftnnews.com/other-news/36097-impact-of-terrorist-attack-on-the-dusitd2-hotel-in-nairobi-on-tourism
6.0 APPENDICES
Figure 1: Civilians flee during the deadly attack
Figure 2: Heavily armed attackers spotted near the area
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