Airlines operating in Kenyan airspace warned of possible terror attack 

The United States aviation has warned civilian airlines operating in Kenyan airspace of the possibility of a terror attack. 

Through a statement, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urged operators of aircraft flying over Kenya to exercise caution because the jihadist group Al-Shabaab poses a threat to aviation. 

According to FAA, Al-Shabaab has expressed the intent to conduct additional attacks, including against aviation-related targets, in retaliation for Kenya sending troops to Somalia as part of the African Union mission. 

“In retaliation for Kenya sending troops to Somalia as part of the African Union mission to counter Al-Shabaab, and could conduct additional attacks, including against aviation-related targets, with little-to-no warning,” added FAA. 

“… Al-Shabaab… is the predominate extremist/militant threat concern in Kenya and has demonstrated its capability and intent to conduct attacks against Kenyan government security forces, civilians, and Western interests in Kenya, including joint civil-military airfields, primarily near Kenya’s eastern border with Somalia and in the coastal region of Kenya adjacent to Somalia,” added the statement. 

The US Embassy has urged members of the public to exercise vigilance in public places. 

The US Embassy noted that this is due to the potential for increased crime and acts of violent extremism in Kenya this time of year. 

Kenya, which is still under an active threat from the Al-Shabaab, has not shown any intentions of withdrawing its troops from Somalia. 

Africa Union Mission to Somalia (Amisom) has played a crucial role in stabilising Somalia for the past 14 years and now is set to transition to the Africa Union Transition Mission to Somalia (ATIMIS) by the end of March. 

This affirms that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will remain in Somalia serving under ATIMIS until a clear road map for establishing long-lasting security is established in the troubled Somalia as it is still far from eliminating the Al-Shabaab.