Kenyans jailed for 30 years over 2019 hotel attack
The attack on the DusitD2 hotel and office complex in central Nairobi left 21 people dead, with police rescuing some 700 civilians as events unfolded over the 20-hour siege.
Five gunmen with the Al-Qaeda-linked Somali militant group Al-Shabaab stormed the complex on the afternoon of January 15, 2019 with one detonating a suicide bomb outside and four others shot dead by police.
A court last month found two Kenyan citizens, Hussein Mohamed Abdille Ali, 22, and Mohamed Abdi Ali, 61, guilty of conspiracy to commit and facilitating terrorism for their role in preparing the attack.
Sentencing them at a Nairobi courthouse on Thursday, judge Diana Kavedza said: "The convicts may not have physically wielded the weapons that caused harm to the victims, but their facilitation directly enabled attackers who were heavily armed with guns, grenades, and suicide vests."
"This was not a crime with isolated harm, 21 lives were lost," she added, acknowledging statements from survivors about their ongoing psychological struggles.
"The emotional scars of the attack runs deep," she said.
Al-Shabaab has carried out multiple attacks in Kenya in part because of its decision to send troops into Somalia in 2011 to fight the group.
An assault on the high-end Westgate mall in Nairobi in 2013 left 67 dead in a siege that stretched out over four days.
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Daily Maverick
31 minutes ago
- Daily Maverick
Unravelling the illicit economies that sustain terrorism in the Sahel
The African Union is uniquely positioned to lead coordinated responses that disrupt criminal networks, strengthen border security and cut arms flows. The Sahel region faces complex security crises driven by violent extremism, farmer-herder conflicts and banditry. Extremism is the major driver of violence. According to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, the Sahel accounts for 51% of global terrorism-related deaths. The death toll from terrorism is a major concern, but so too should be the illicit economies enabling and sustaining violent extremism. The region's significant gold deposits draw global attention and facilitate illegal economies that thrive amid regional instability. According to a 2023 United Nations report, artisanal and small-scale gold mining, often unlawful, accounted for about 50% of the region's gold production. This robs states of billions in revenue and plays into the hands of groups that control mining communities and smuggling routes. With more than 1.8 million people in the Sahel relying on mining for their livelihoods, violent extremists and bandits jostle for control of lucrative mining sites for financial gain and to recruit supporters. Violent extremist groups like Jama'at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State – Sahel Province step into governance vacuums, controlling territories and markets. They impose taxes and protection fees on miners and communities, ostensibly to shield them from rival groups, but in effect consolidating their control over resource-rich areas. In localities under their influence, JNIM – a coalition of five al-Qaeda-affiliated groups – practises strategic governance to secure civilian support. It negates state regulations by permitting mining and logging in restricted natural reserves, often in hazardous conditions. This buys them the support of locals frustrated by restrictive state policies or bureaucratic delays in obtaining licences. The demand for weapons in the Sahel is not only from violent extremists and separatists, but also from ordinary citizens left vulnerable by inadequate state security. In Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, miners collaborate with armed groups out of necessity and preference, deepening extremist influence and undermining state authority. JNIM has a vast membership across all three countries, with an increasing foothold in coastal states such as Togo, Benin and Côte d'Ivoire. This enables it to control gold smuggling routes with the complicity of international criminal networks that benefit from the chaos. The illicit arms trade deepens the influence of criminal groups in the Sahel. About 12 million illegal weapons are circulating in west Africa, with seizures revealing small arms, live ammunition, improvised explosive devices, drones and rocket-propelled grenades. Beyond Libya's post-conflict stockpiles, reports show that losses from the battlefield and through corrupt officials are key sources of arms. Markets reportedly thrive in tri-border towns such as Mallam Fatori (Nigeria), Tin Zaoutine (Algeria), Téra (Niger), Murzuq (Libya), Gaya (Niger) and Porga (Benin). The demand for weapons in the Sahel is not only from violent extremists and separatists, but also from ordinary citizens left vulnerable by inadequate state security. Armed vigilante groups are widespread, providing informal neighbourhood protection against terrorists and bandits. But they often exacerbate the violence by carrying out ethnic and discriminatory profiling. In Mali, vigilantes such as the Dan Na Ambassagou and Fulani communities are locked in cycles of reprisal attacks over suspicion of the latter's ties with JNIM forces. Weapons used in these skirmishes are sourced from markets controlled by those who thrive on instability. Artisanal arms production is also rising, with 60% of firearms seized from civilians in Burkina Faso in 2016 and 2017 locally crafted. The sharing of routes by violent extremists and arms, drug and human traffickers blurs the line between ideological and profit-driven motives. Unlawful arms proliferation has obliterated opportunities for dialogue, leading to protracted intercommunal violence and farmer-herder crises. As arms flow in, people flee. The UN Refugee Agency estimates that about five million people have been forcibly displaced and another 33 million need humanitarian support. All are vulnerable to exploitation through forced labour, sex trafficking and migrant smuggling. Young people disillusioned by the region's economic, governance and security crises have turned to substance abuse. Low-cost drugs such as tramadol and other synthetic opioids are creating dependency and susceptibility to recruitment by criminal networks. JNIM's affiliate, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, taxes drug-smuggling routes to fund its activities. The sharing of routes by violent extremists and arms, drug and human traffickers blurs the line between ideological and profit-driven motives. Disrupting these networks requires targeted policies to strengthen border security and community safety, regulate artisanal arms production, and address the socioeconomic drivers of youth radicalisation. The Sahel's organised crime and extremism crisis stems not from a lack of legislation, but the limited capacity of governments to implement existing laws. Vast ungoverned spaces, socioeconomic conditions that breed corruption and protracted insecurity enable illicit economies to thrive. Reviving the AU's 2013 Nouakchott Process against terrorism and organised crime also offers a solution – but only if the AU goes the extra mile in the Sahel. Recent coups and junta-led governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger reflect decades of national, regional and continental failures to address the drivers of crime and extremism. Their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) to form their own Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has fragmented regional cooperation and set back regional security efforts. The African Union (AU) is uniquely positioned to lead coordinated responses. Yet its efforts are hampered by a reluctance to act when states transgress its governance norms, and the decade-plus delay in deploying a counterterrorism force in the Sahel. The AU must prioritise engagement with the AES countries, especially to resolve underlying conflicts such as Mali's secessionist crisis, and disrupt extremist and criminal structures that sustain illegal markets. Through its convening power, the AU could bring together AES and Ecowas members to tackle transnational organised crime. Reviving the AU's 2013 Nouakchott Process against terrorism and organised crime also offers a solution – but only if the AU goes the extra mile in the Sahel. Success hinges on overcoming mistrust, sharing intelligence, implementing joint border patrols and targeting criminal and extremist enclaves. The AU Peace and Security Council could urge the region's member states to adopt measures that shrink extremist groups' resource and recruitment base. Coordinated hotspot assessments of trafficking routes and extremist strongholds are crucial to minimise civilian harm, while rigorous stockpile management could curb the diversion of arms through looting or corruption. Addressing the socioeconomic drivers of crime is also vital. The AU must mobilise funds to launch youth-centred economic development, especially in border communities, that offers alternatives to illegal mining, smuggling and extremism. DM
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Israeli airstrike kills five Al Jazeera journalists, prompting outcry over press freedom
Al-Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif reports near the Arab Ahli (Baptist) Hospital in Gaza City on October 10, 2024. Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera said on August 11, 2025, that five of its journalists were killed in an Israeli strike, including a prominent reporter. The Israeli military acknowledged in a statement targeting correspondent Anas al-Sharif, accusing him of being a "terrorist" affiliated with Hamas. Image: AFP The deliberate Israeli airstrike that killed five Al Jazeera journalists near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City has sent shockwaves through the global journalism community, highlighting the growing dangers faced by reporters covering conflict zones. Among those killed were correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa. The Israeli military has admitted to 'deliberately killing' al-Sharif and four other staff members in the strike, a claim that has intensified calls for justice and accountability worldwide. According to Al Jazeera, the Israeli military admitted to "deliberately killing" al-Sharif and four other staff members in the strike. It is believed that the journalists had been threatened for months before the incident. Before his untimely death, Israeli authorities accused al-Sharif of being affiliated with Hamas's military wing and of 'advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and troops,' claiming to have 'unequivocal proof' in the form of documents, claims that remain contested amid the ongoing conflict. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading According to Al Jazeera, the team was stationed in a tent near the main gate of Gaza City's al-Shifa Hospital late on Sunday evening. This tent served as their workspace, as journalists in Gaza have often gathered at hospitals to access more reliable electricity and internet, a practice well-known since the start of Israel's war on Gaza. In what is widely seen as a direct assault on press freedom, at least 242 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023. Both local and international organisations have strongly denounced the deliberate attacks on media personnel. The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) condemned the actions as deplorable and a grave attack on press freedom and human rights. The organisation said it has, on numerous occasions, unequivocally condemned the brutality of the Israeli military in specifically targeting journalists and systematically denying other international journalists the ability to report live from Gaza. "This pattern of behaviour is a grave threat to the public's right to information." SANEF appeals to international organisations and governments to intensify efforts and compel an immediate halt to violence against journalists. "Guarantee their safety, and hold accountable those responsible for these heinous crimes. The world relies on journalists to bear witness and report the truth, and their protection must be paramount," the organisation stated. In a similar vein, the Press Council of South Africa has previously condemned the actions as serious violations of international law and fundamental human rights, and called for global support of the UN and other international bodies to ensure accountability. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has also condemned the deliberate targeting of journalists, stressing the vital importance of their work in delivering news from conflict zones.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Israeli airstrike kills five Al Jazeera journalists, prompting outcry over press freedom
Masabata Mkwananzi | Published 31 minutes ago Al-Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif reports near the Arab Ahli (Baptist) Hospital in Gaza City on October 10, 2024. Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera said on August 11, 2025, that five of its journalists were killed in an Israeli strike, including a prominent reporter. The Israeli military acknowledged in a statement targeting correspondent Anas al-Sharif, accusing him of being a "terrorist" affiliated with Hamas. Image: AFP The deliberate Israeli airstrike that killed five Al Jazeera journalists near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City has sent shockwaves through the global journalism community, highlighting the growing dangers faced by reporters covering conflict zones. Among those killed were correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa. The Israeli military has admitted to 'deliberately killing' al-Sharif and four other staff members in the strike, a claim that has intensified calls for justice and accountability worldwide. According to Al Jazeera, the Israeli military admitted to "deliberately killing" al-Sharif and four other staff members in the strike. It is believed that the journalists had been threatened for months before the incident. Before his untimely death, Israeli authorities accused al-Sharif of being affiliated with Hamas's military wing and of 'advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and troops,' claiming to have 'unequivocal proof' in the form of documents, claims that remain contested amid the ongoing conflict. According to Al Jazeera, the team was stationed in a tent near the main gate of Gaza City's al-Shifa Hospital late on Sunday evening. This tent served as their workspace, as journalists in Gaza have often gathered at hospitals to access more reliable electricity and internet, a practice well-known since the start of Israel's war on Gaza. In what is widely seen as a direct assault on press freedom, at least 242 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023. Both local and international organisations have strongly denounced the deliberate attacks on media personnel. The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) condemned the actions as deplorable and a grave attack on press freedom and human rights. The organisation said it has, on numerous occasions, unequivocally condemned the brutality of the Israeli military in specifically targeting journalists and systematically denying other international journalists the ability to report live from Gaza. "This pattern of behaviour is a grave threat to the public's right to information." SANEF appeals to international organisations and governments to intensify efforts and compel an immediate halt to violence against journalists. "Guarantee their safety, and hold accountable those responsible for these heinous crimes. The world relies on journalists to bear witness and report the truth, and their protection must be paramount," the organisation stated. In a similar vein, the Press Council of South Africa has previously condemned the actions as serious violations of international law and fundamental human rights, and called for global support of the UN and other international bodies to ensure accountability. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has also condemned the deliberate targeting of journalists, stressing the vital importance of their work in delivering news from conflict zones. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has repeatedly highlighted the unprecedented number of journalists killed in the conflict, stressing the urgent need for thorough investigations and accountability. The Star [email protected]
