Introduction
In the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the United States (U.S.), the Horn of Africa has been scrutinized as a potential strategic hub for the U.S.-led campaign against terrorist organizations. Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Eritrea, Somalia, and Ethiopia become the main targets of U.S. anti-terrorist measures. Al-Qaeda was proved to be present in Kenya in 2003 when the government of that nation acknowledged that a high-ranking member of the terror organization al-Qaeda had been plotting an attack, specifically aimed at Westerners. Over 60 people were killed when four masked shooters opened fire on the Westgate retail mall in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 21, 2013.1 Two suicide bombers went off at the La Chaumiere restaurant in Djibouti in May 2014; foreign forces frequented the establishment.2 On April 2, 2015, at least 79 people were injured and 148 people died when gunmen invaded the Garissa University College in Garissa, Kenya.3 In January 2019, 21 people were killed in an attack on the DusitD2 Hotel.4 Terrorist organization al-Shabaab, which has ties to al-Qaeda, was responsible for all of these horrific assaults.
