AFRICA

Somalia (Security threat level – 5): On the morning of 2 August 2022, an improvised explosive device detonated targeting a military convoy at Tarabunka junction in the capital Mogadishu. Two people were killed in the blast and at least three more were wounded. The al-Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

ASIA

Afghanistan / United States (Security threat levels – 5 / 2): On 1 August 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden announced the assassination of Ayman al-Zawahiri — the leader of al-Qaeda — in a 30 July drone strike in the upscale Sherpur neighborhood of the capital Kabul. There were no civilian casualties in the strike. U.S. officials believe the Taliban were harboring al-Zawahiri in violation of an agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban regime.

Analyst Comment: Ayman Al-Zawahiri had led al-Qaeda since the death of Osama Bin Laden in 2011 and was suspected of involvement in organizing and plotting numerous terrorist attacks — including the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S. and the October 2000 bombing of the navy ship USS Cole off the Yemeni coast. Additionally, in 1999 al-Zawahiri was indicted in the U.S. for his involvement in the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

NORTH AMERICA

United States (Security threat level – 2): As of 2 August 2022, search and rescue operations are continuing in eastern Kentucky, following widespread flooding that affected the region on 27-28 July. More than 1,300 people have been rescued so far and emergency personnel, including National Guard troops, continue to search for hundreds of others who remain unaccounted for. Over 9,600 customers in the region are still without electricity. The death toll currently stands at 37 and is expected to rise. More rainfall is anticipated through the morning hours of 2 August, which could cause additional flash flooding.

In related developments, local officials in select communities enacted nighttime curfews in response to reports of looting. A 2200-0600 local time (0200-1000 UTC) nightly curfew has been imposed in Breathitt County, a dusk-to-dawn curfew is in effect in the nearby town of Hindman in Knott County, and Letcher County is under a curfew from 0000-0600 local time.

GOVERNMENT WARNINGS

Kenya (Security threat level – 4): On 2 August 2022, the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi issued a Security Alert, which reads in part as follows: “Kenya is scheduled to hold elections on August 9, 2022. Campaigning for local and national offices is fully underway. Kenya has periodically experienced some pre-electoral violence during election cycles.

“Election-related demonstrations and rallies regularly take place in the runup to the election and are likely to continue, at times blocking key intersections and causing traffic jams. Demonstrations may occasionally be violent, requiring police intervention. Strikes and other protest activities related to economic conditions occur regularly.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the Embassy has imposed movement restrictions on personnel in Kisumu. The State Department reminds U.S. citizens of the continued need for sustained vigilance.”