2022 Mandera attack
Murders in Mandera County, Kenya
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On January 31, 2022, al-Shabaab attacked a bus carrying civilians in Mandera County, Kenya, near the border with Somalia. Ten people were killed, and thirteen injured, in the attack.
| 2022 Mandera attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of Somali Civil War (2009-present) | |
| Location | Hagarsu, Mandera County, Kenya |
| Date | January 31, 2022 |
| Deaths | 10 |
| Injured | 13 |
| Perpetrator |  al-Shabaab |
Background
The Somali government has been fighting the jihadist group al-Shabaab since 2009, in the Somali Civil War. Due to a lack of security along the Kenyan-Somali border, al-Shabaab militants often launch raids into rural Kenyan counties, like Wajir County, Lamu County, and Mandera County.[1] In 2019, al-Shabaab attacked a bus in Wajir county that was carrying law enforcement, killing eleven people.[2] The road attacked in January 2022 had also been attacked before in 2015, killing three people but failing to assassinate the Mandera County governor.[3] Another attack hit the road in 2021.[4] Prior to the January 2022 attack, French, American, and Dutch officials warned Kenyan security that attacks were likely, but Kenya stated that they had no knowledge of these.[5]
Attack
At the time of the attack, the bus was traveling through the town of Hagarsu, along the E87 highway.[4] Around 20 people were on the bus at the time of the explosion.[6][7] Witnesses stated gunshots rang out, and then the bus hit an IED on the road, which was suspected to have been placed there earlier that week by al-Shabaab.[6][7] Survivors stated that following the bombing, al-Shabaab militants attacked the bus and shot people, injuring and killing several.[3] A police report later claimed the attackers fled back towards the Somali border.[6] Two other vehicles behind the destroyed one were unaffected by the attack.[7]
Initial reports from Kenyan media stated six people were killed, which rose to a number between seven and thirteen as injuries were still being assessed.[8][better source needed] Hospitals in the area stated that they were treating 13 people for injuries.[9] Ten people were killed in total, with thirteen injured.[5]
Aftermath
The Honorary Consulate of Kenya to Ukraine expressed their condolences.[10][better source needed] The Mandera County Deputy Governor Mohamed Arai called on security agencies to fully investigate the bombing.[7] In an interview with Hiiraan Online, Rono Bunei, the North Eastern police commander, stated that the attackers had warned the bus driver by placing a sign, and that the driver had likely not seen it.[7]
Days later, on February 2, four people were killed in an al-Shabaab planted IED in Wajir County.[11]