This archive report was first published on 4 August 2020.
Published on August 4, 2020, the US Africa Command (Africom) has warned that terror threats in East Africa remain unchanged despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
Violent extremist organisations like Al-Shabaab are still looking for opportunities to accomplish their missions, Africom's Special Operations head Dagvin R.M. Anderson said during a virtual press conference.
‘We cannot underestimate the threat these organisations pose. They are resilient, patient and willing to look for chances that emerge...and recruit members,’ Maj-Gen Anderson said.
The US Special Operations Command Africa is a subsidiary of Africom, aiming to counter transnational crimes by curbing the spread of extremism, strengthening partner states' defence capabilities and protecting US interests on the continent.
Despite the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) slowing down activities to put in place Covid-19 mitigation measures, partners are now fully engaged in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
Africom is working with Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Somalia to combat terrorism, and has noted that Al-Shabaab members have died from Covid-19 despite the group's claim that the illness only affects non-believers.
