This archive report was first published on 5 January 2020.
Published on January 5, 2020, by Amina Wako
Al-Shabaab's claim of severe casualties and effective control of a military base in Lamu County following a Sunday attack has been disputed by the US military.
The US Africa Command, Africom, dismissed the group's statement, saying it was exaggerated and intended to create a false impression.
“Al-Shabaab resorts to lies, coercion, and the exertion of force to bolster their reputation to create false headlines,” said Maj. Gen. William Gayler, US Africa Command's Director of Operations.
According to Africom, the airfield at Manda Bay had been cleared and was being secured, contradicting Al-Shabaab's claim of ongoing fighting.
Al-Shabaab had also claimed to have seized part of the military base, but Africom stated that the security situation at Manda Bay was fluid and that the group's claims were not supported by facts.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) had earlier stated that the attackers were successfully repulsed, and four bodies of Al-Shabaab fighters were found, along with a fire that broke out during the attack.
