- The Embassy advised US citizens in Somalia to continue to exercising vigilance while in the country and review their personal security plans.
- The advisory comes just days after the United Nations on April 5 lifted a 32-year-old arms embargo on Somalia.
Image: FILE
The US Embassy in Nairobi Monday issued a travel advisory to US citizens against travelling to Somalia owing to terror threats.
The Embassy said it received information from the US Embassy in Somalia about threats to multiple locations in Mogadishu, including Aden Adde International Airport.
“The US Embassy in Somalia reminds US citizens that terrorists continue to plot kidnappings, bombings and other attacks in Somalia. They may conduct attacks with little or no warning,” the advisory said.
Other possible targets, it added, include seaports, checkpoints, government buildings, hotels, restaurants, shopping areas and other areas where large crowds gather and Westerners frequent.
Government, military and Western convoys, it said, are also on the radar and may also be targeted.
“Methods of attack include, but are not limited to, car bombs, suicide bombers, individual attackers and mortar fire,” the level-four travel advisory said in part.
The Embassy added that the US government’s capacity to provide emergency services to its citizens in Somalia has been extremely limited by the lack of a permanent consular presence in the country.
As such, it said all movements of US Embassy personnel have been cancelled for Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
The Embassy advised US citizens in Somalia to continue to exercise vigilance while in the country and review their personal security plans.
It further advised them to notify trusted persons of their travel and movement plans and avoid large crowds, gatherings and demonstrations.
“Stay alert in locations frequented by tourists/Westerners. Be aware of your surroundings and local Security developments,” it added.
The Embassy further told the citizens to keep an eye on local media and news for updates.
The advisory comes just days after the United Nations on April 5 lifted a 32-year-old arms embargo on Somalia supposedly to allow its western-backed government to re-equip and modernise its armed forces to eliminate the al Shabaab terrorist organization.
Al Qaeda-allied terror group has continued to pose serious security threats within and outside Somalia with occasional sporadic attacks in Kenya particularly along the border counties of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera resulting in mass casualties on most occasions.
Just 10 days ago on March 29, at least six Kenyans were killed when terrorists raided a border town of Dhobley, Somalia.
The victims were all Kenyan hawkers who operated between Kenya and Somalia and were involved in Malimali businesses at the border.
Five days earlier on March 25, four people including two police officers had also been killed after an Improvised Explosive Device went off at a popular kiosk frequented by locals in Mandera.
At least 20 other victims of the blast were hospitalized with various degrees of injuries.
Police said a taxi driver suspected of transporting two people who planted the IED at the Fish Point Hotel was arrested on April 5.