What you need to know about Burkina Faso hotel attack
Updated: 2016-01-16 14:27
(Xinhua)
|
||||||||
-- Major terrorist attacks in Africa in 2015 and new trends
Terror attacks continued unabated in sub-Saharan Africa in 2015, and regional militant groups are showing a tendency to connect to outside terror groups and change tactics.
On Friday, Al Shabaab fighters attacked an African Union (AU) Mission to Somalia (AMISOM), killing dozens of Kenyan soldiers. The group said it had taken over the military base and killed more than 63 Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers. However, those claims have not been verified.
The Al-Qaida-linked group has engaged AU peacekeepers and the Somali government in near daily attacks especially in Mogadishu and regions bordering Kenya.
The group has lost key towns in the south and central Somalia in the past three years, but still carries out deadly bomb attacks in the main towns including the Somali capital Mogadishu.
Another militant group operating in Africa is Boko Haram. Following its allegiance to the IS in March, Boko Haram's tactics in carrying out attacks changed and the group is using social media to spread propaganda in its fight against Nigeria's revitalized military.
On Dec. 6, 2015, Boko Haram carried out a series suicide bomb attacks in the Lake Chad Region, leaving 19 people killed and 130 others wounded.
Throughout 2015, about 1,100 schools were destroyed by Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region. The group has been blamed for scores of attacks on schools and universities in an insurgency that has killed at least 17,000 people since 2009.
The armed group made international headlines in April 2014 when it kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from a school in Chibok, a town in Borno State. Fifty-three of the school girls escaped, but the rest remained missing.
On Nov. 20, the Jihadist Al-Murabitoun group attacked the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, Mali, killing 27 people, including three Chinese nationals.
Al-Murabitoun is based in northern Mali, an insecure region where militant attacks have now extended farther south, including Bamako.
The group, which two years ago split from al-Qaida's North Africa branch and is led by former al-Qaida commander Moktar Belmoktar, was also responsible for a shooting attack on a restaurant popular with foreigners in Bamako on March 7, 2015, which killed five people and wounded nine others.
- Massive dinosaur skeleton will spill out of hall at NY museum
- Pakistan confirms detention of top suspect of Indian airbase attack
- US sailors made 'navigational error' into Iranian waters
- 14 killed in tour bus crash in central Japan
- Blasts and gunfight in Jakarta leave six dead
- Jakarta police headquarters in first-security alert
- For police officers, duty is all in a day's work
- Children at Chinese embassy in US send wishes to Dorian
- People prepare for Chinese New Year
- Souvenirs and Apps make a refreshing Palace Museum
- Monkey portraits by Chinese ink painting masters
- SWAT members hold romantic wedding in E China
- Stephane Peterhansel regains Dakar Rally lead
- Goodbye to steam trains
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
8 highlights about V-day Parade |
Glimpses of Tibet: Plateaus, people and faith |
Chinese entrepreneurs remain optimistic despite economic downfall |
50th anniversary of Tibet autonomous region |
Tianjin explosions: Deaths, destruction and bravery |
Cinemas enjoy strong first half |
Today's Top News
National Art Museum showing 400 puppets in new exhibition
Finest Chinese porcelains expected to fetch over $28 million
Monkey portraits by Chinese ink painting masters
Beijing's movie fans in for new experience
Obama to deliver final State of the Union speech
Shooting rampage at US social services agency leaves 14 dead
Chinese bargain hunters are changing the retail game
Chinese president arrives in Turkey for G20 summit
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |