This archive report was first published on 5 January 2020.
January 5, 2020, marked a tragic day for the US military as an al-Shabaab attack on a Kenya Defense Force base in Manda Bay, Kenya, resulted in the deaths of one US service member and two Department of Defense contractors.
Two Department of Defense members were also wounded in the attack, but are currently in stable condition and being evacuated.
Out of respect for the families of the fallen and injured, the Department of Defense has withheld the names of the victims as part of the next of kin notification process.
US Army General Stephen Townsend, commander of US Africa Command, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, stating, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of our teammates who lost their lives today."
He also vowed to pursue those responsible for the attack, saying, "Alongside our African and international partners, we will pursue those responsible for this attack and al-Shabaab who seeks to harm Americans and U.S. interests."
Al-Shabaab, a senior leader of which pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda in 2008, has a history of using surprise and asymmetric tactics. The group has expressed its intent to attack the US homeland and target Americans, but US pressure has constrained its ability to carry out these desires.
The attack on the compound involved indirect and small arms fire, but Kenya Defense Forces and US Africa Command were able to repel the al-Shabaab attack. Six contractor-operated civilian aircraft were damaged in the process.
US forces in East Africa are working to bolster partnerships, counter malign influence, and maintain critical pressure on terrorist networks, according to General Townsend.
