Kenya: Four Abducted In Suspected al-Shabab Attack

Image copyright: Anadolu Agency

The Facts

  • On Tuesday, Kenya police reported that suspected al-Shabab militants abducted four people in the northeastern county of Mandera, near the country's border with Somalia, including two paramedics, an ambulance driver, and a patient.

  • The ambulance was reportedly heading to Elwak hospital for referral with a patient accompanied by hospital staff when attackers ambushed and carjacked it, driving towards Somalia. They aren't in communication now due to network issues.


The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Just like ISIS, the goal of al-Shabab — which has grown from hundreds of militants to thousands — is to create an Islamic State in Somalia. Without continued support from the West and Somalia's neighbors, some estimate the group's violent attacks will increase by over 70%. They aren't just a threat to Somalia but to its Western and African allies. More must be done to counter them.

Establishment-critical narrative

After a little-known brief period of peace and prosperity, the 2006 US and UK-backed Ethiopian invasion of Somalia is what really created modern-day al-Shabab. In pursuit of expanding its military presence everywhere, the West — with Pres. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as its proxy — has yet again helped cause the problems it's now trying to "fix." The last thing needed is more Western meddling.


Metaculus Prediction


Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO