On 11 April 2022, al-Shabaab launched
a mortar attack on the Somalian parliament while in session, injuring at least six people (VOA, 18 April 2022). This attack comes just a few weeks after a
suicide bomber killed 48 people and wounded over 100 at a regional presidential palace 300km north of Mogadishu (VOA, 27 March 2022). Al-Shabaab also claimed responsibility for the following incidents in April 2022:
- 11 April 2022: Al-Shabaab launched an unsuccessful attack on an army base in Dinsoor in the southern region of Bay which led to the death of 7 of the assailants (Garowe Online, 12 April 2022).
- 14 April 2022: Al-Shabaab sent a barrage of mortar bombs to disrupt the swearing-in of new Somali MPs at the Halane base at Mogadishu airport (Somali Guardian, 14 April 2022).
- 17 April 2022: A bomb was detonated in Jowhar, the capital of Hirshabelle, killing two bodyguards of a member of the Federal Electoral Commission, who was being targeted (Goobjoog News, 17 April 2022).
- 18 April 2022: Al-Shabaab assassinated the commander of Jubbaland State security forces and six others with an improvised explosive device (IED) in southern Somalia (Critical Threats, 18 April 2022).
World Watch Research analyst Yonas Dembele comments: "The attacks listed above show that aggressive Islamic militancy is rife in Somalia. The jihadists aim to create a lawless society where their radical ideals will take root. They are opposed to Western education, democracy and Christianity. In such circumstances, Christians are an obvious target, making it dangerous for any manifestation of Christian faith in the country."
