Mandera County elders curse Al-Shabaab

Al-Shabaab militants recent attacks in Mandera have stalled development in the county. (Courtesy)

MANDERA—Persistent attacks by Al-Shabaab in Mandera County has seen a section of elders from Elwak community perform rituals to curse the militant group.

This is after the Al-Shabaab destroyed Hormuud communication mast located on the Somalia border town of Elwak on Sunday morning.

The Wednesday ritual was conducted in the presence of locals who supported the action of the clan elders saying they are determined to protect their economic livelihoods which are being threatened by the attacks.

The locals claimed they are being targeted by the Al Qaeda-linked terror group because they refused to shelter them.

“We had no intentions to work with the security agents but at this rate Al-Shabaab is forcing us to work with the government,” a resident who sort anonymity stated.

Businessmen in the region also lauded the move by the elders, saying lack of communication in the area had caused them a lot of losses.

The locals blamed the militia group, which mostly retreats to Somalia after every strike to having stalled development in the area.

Elwak and Lafey towns have become targets due to their proximity to the border with Somalia.

Al- Shabaab claimed it targeted the communication mast in Elwak town because the locals were using it to pass information to security agents about their operations.

On January 2, two police reservists and an AP died instantly while another reservist was killed while being rushed to the hospital in an ambush along the Elwak-Kitulo road.

Last year December the locals were aggrieved by the militants who destroyed a water well in Lafey.