Professor of African History David Anderson, from the University of Warwick, has responded to the latest attack in Kenya.

He said: “Al Shabaab's Ramadan offensive continued last night with a deadly attack in Kenya's Mandera County, killing at least 14 quarry workers. This maintains a pattern of assaults that has seen non-Muslim workers targeted. Al Shabaab hopes to chase non-Muslims out of Kenya's north-eastern borderlands, fomenting sectarian conflict in the process.

“This most recent attack occurred close to a Kenyan military base, illustrating the immense difficulties confronting Kenya's security forces in dealing with this threat. Efforts to impose curfews have failed and been abandoned. The military are simply not able to protect the many soft targets in these borderland counties.

“With President Obama's July visit to Kenya looming ever closer, Al Shabaab's assault serves as a timely reminder ofKenya's insecurities and the very potent threat they pose.”

Note to Editors:

Issued by Lee Page, Communications Manager, Press and Policy Office, The University of Warwick. Tel: +44 (0)2476 574 255, Mob: +44 (0)7920 531 221. Email: l.page@warwick.ac.uk.

Contact:

Lee Page

Communications Manager, University of Warwick

Tel: +44 (0)2476 574 255

Mob: +44 (0)7920 531 221

Email: l.page@warwick.ac.uk