Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Civilians Bear Brunt of Terror as Kenya's Operation Against Al-Shabab
Continues in Forest

Mohammed Yusuf

   KIANGWE, KENYA - Kenya launched an operation to flush out al-Shabab
   terrorists from the northeast Boni Forest on the border with Somalia in
   2015. The operation was meant to last a few months but -- nearly five
   years later -- security forces are still struggling to stamp out the
   Islamist militants. Villagers are afraid to venture into the forest and
   a deadly January attack on a joint Kenya-U.S. military base has
   highlighted ongoing insecurity.

   Twenty-year-old Bilai Abdi said she was excited about getting her two
   children new clothes one afternoon in 2017.

.