Al shabaabs foreign threat to somalia by david shinn david shinn is an adjunct professor in the elliott school of international affairs at george washington university. For more on this topic, see stig jarle hansen, al shabaab in somalia. The secret history of alqaedas most powerful ally, african affairs, volume 118. Stig jarle hansen is to be lauded as an expert on somalia who gets beyond the echo chambers of conferences and the agendas of websites, wading instead into the real world of somali society and the critical role that al shabaab plays in it. Sep 23, 20 alshabab, or the youth, is an alqaidalinked militant group and u. Abstractthis paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group harakat alshabaab almujahideen. Background report alshabaab attack on garissa university in kenya on thursday, april 2, gunmen attacked garissa university in eastern kenya, near the border with somalia.
Al shabaab claimed that there were 17 us casualties, nine kenyan soldiers killed and seven aircraft destroyed. Country policy and information note somalia south and. Al shabaab harakat al shabaab al mujahideen is a jihadi insurgent group active in somalia and, in recent years, increasingly in kenya. Harakat al shebab al mujahideen the movement of mujahidin youth, or al shebab, is an qaedaal aqaffiliated violent jihadist group based in southern and central somalia. There, the government has, with limited means, denied al shabaab the operational space it requires through the implementation of a virtuous circle that builds on local buyin and uses humint as a force multiplier. However, the al shabaab is not politically organized. Learn about al shabab, the al qaeda affiliate with continued influence in somalia, and track the latest developments in the country using cfrs global conflict tracker. Dalha ali has spent the past five years living and studying at alhidaya mosque in mogadishu, learning the ways. Amid the outrage against alshabaab, its important to recognise that terrorism does not happen outside of history. Harakat alshebab almujahideen the movement of mujahidin youth, or alshebab, is an qaedaal aqaffiliated violent jihadist group based in southern and central somalia. Forest have determined that al sha baab is aided in its quest by some fundamental realities of somali culture and history. The attackers killed 147 and injured 79 before detonating suicide vests when cornered by security forces. Al shabaabs history with humanitarian assistance critical.
Forest has determined that alshabaab is aided in its quest by some fundamental realities of somali culture and history. The impact of al shabab terrorist attacks in kenya. For the last thirty years somalia has experienced violence and upheaval. Rather it is a wellstructured organization composed of several independent components. That is certainly true of al shabaab, which was born out of the islamic court. Aqam futures project case study series case study number 2 july 2011 project directors. Alshabaab originated as a militia affiliated with the islamic courts union icu, a. The rise of al shabaab tennessee research and creative. Shabaab s then fight the leaders of disbelief video series features clips of various al qaeda figures from the past and present. Alshabab, or the youth, is an islamist insurgent group based in somalia.
The harakat shabaab almujahidincommonly known as alshabaabwas the militant wing of the somali council of islamic courts that took over most of southern somalia in the second half of 2006. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group, 20052012 by stig jarle hansen. This brief synopsis of al shabaab is a thoroughly enjoyable read behind the group that has caused so much turmoil in east africa. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group, 20052012 by stig jarle hansen london. Despite the groups defeat by somali and ethiopian forces in 2007, alshabaaba clanbased insurgent and terrorist grouphas continued its. Not much of his history is known other than to have undergone considerable islamic teaching in saudi arabia and. The pushback from alshabaab means it is far from clear whether the islamic state in somalia will be able to sustain its operational expansion. Al zawahiri approved and welcomed alshabaab as al qaedas somaliabased affiliate in a 15minute video response, stating today, i have glad tidings for the muslim ummah that will please the believers and disturb the disbelievers, which is the joining of the shabaab al mujahideen movement in somalia to qaeda al jihad, to support the jihadi. Al shabaab claimed that its attacks in kenya were meant to force kenyan troops to withdraw from somalia. Centre for strategic and international studies, 2014, p. Al shabaab is an al qaedaaffiliated organization that has risen rapidly to.
Al shabaab has struggled and largely failed to establish itself in the independent but unrecognized republic of somaliland. The important stories of innovation across the continents wideranging economies. Al qaeda will continue its efforts to encourage key regional affiliates and jihadist networks to pursue a global agenda. The organisation known as al shabaab originally emerged from the islamic courts union icu movement in somalia. Security crackdowns have blunted its capacity to stage regular assaults, but complacency could roll back those gains, as could failure to engage with communities in which the group recruits. According to mathew thomas 20, al shabaab originated from the remnants of the islamic court union icu also known as al ittihad mahakem al islayiya, which used to be a union of different islamic militant groups in somalia after the collapse of the government in 1991. Dec 16, 20 channel 4 news reports from inside a jihadist training camp in somalia where the much feared al shabaab is training hundreds of fighters from around the worl. That is certainly true of alshabaab, which was born out of the islamic court. The icu began as a loose grouping of sharia courts that by 2006 had grown into a powerful islamic militia which enjoyed control over much of southern somalia. How somaliland combats alshabaab combating terrorism. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group new york, 20. Modern history of al shabaab while much of the icus leadership quickly fled the ad. The group developed in the early 2000s parallel to, and later in partnership with, the union of islamic courts uic that overran the capital, mogadishu, and installed themselves as administrators over mogadishu and much of somalia in 2006.
This research sought to uncover the answers to the following questions. Beginning in 2006, the group waged an insurgency against somalias transitional federal government tfg. Five years after an attack on nairobis westgate mall, alshabaab appears committed to striking targets across east africa. The group has waged an insurgency against the transitional federal government as well as the african union au peace keeping. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group, 20052012, by stig jarle hansen, london. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group, 2005.
The authors embed the groups history into the larger one of political islam in soma lia and beyond. Its a great introduction for those new to the topic, but its also a landmark work and absolutely required reading for. Though al shabaab is starting to gain some recognition, the historical conditions that led. Al shabaab aligned with al qaeda has a history of conducting attacks on buses in which militants separate nonmuslims for execution. As a washington post profile from last year describes, he was a prominent force in taking the militant group from a loose network of hardliners into a relatively cohesive, and notably al qaedaaligned, militant group. It once held sway over the capital of mogadishu and large portions of the somali countryside, but in. This book explores the history of the somalia based al harakat al shabaab from 2005 to 2012, offering the first indetail history of one of the most important al.
Using existing research and original interviews, this study outlines al shabaab s history. Its a great introduction for those new to the topic, but its also a landmark work and absolutely required reading for those who study and work to counter terrorism. Forest have determined that alsha baab is aided in its quest by some fundamental realities of somali culture and history. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group, 20052012. It is a golden chance for alshabaab to pick itself up off the mat. Al shabaab s history with humanitarian assistance katherine zimmerman the united nations recently declared that there is a famine in lower shabelle and bakool regions and nearfamine conditions throughout southern somalia.
Godane served as al shababs spiritual and political leader from 2008 until his death in 2014. Alshabaab kills three americans in attack on us military. Al shabaab militants attacked kenyas westgate mall in 2011, sparking a fourday siege in which at least sixtyeight people were killed. The study found that al shabaab emerged from some islamic movement with the goal of establishing an. Using sociology of education, with emphasis on indoctrination, the article explored al shabaab as an emerging terrorist group in somalia. The rise of a jihadi movement in a country at war harakat alshabaab al mujaheddin in somalia roland marchal senior research fellow at cnrs sciencespo paris march 2011 this report is independent and does not represent the views of her majestys government. This book explores the history of the somalia based al harakat al shabaab from 2005 to 2012, offering the first indetail history of one of the most important al qaeda affiliates today and the first to conquer large territories. Ethiopia, a part of the anti shabaab coalition, is somalias ancient enemy, and kenya has its own fraught relationship with the country. Calling for an expulsion of the ethiopians and the formation of an islamic state in somalia, al shabaab rallied considerable. Pdf this article sets out to explore the evolution, operational strategy and transnational dimensions of. They also clearly show alshabaabs relevance within the. Alshabaab has struggled and largely failed to establish itself in the independent but unrecognized republic of somaliland.
The al shabaab terrorist organisation are largely thought to be behind these last two attacks and were thus the main focal point of this discussion. Al shabab formally pledged allegiance to al qaeda in 2012, though ties between them existed since 2008, when the americanborn al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap cleric anwar al awlaki released a statement praising al shabab for fighting against the u. The history of alshabaab south african history online. The complete, concise history of alshabaab, the group behind the kenyan mall attack. Using existing research and original interviews, this study outlines alshabaabs history an.
The secret history of alqaedas most powerful ally kindle edition by dan joseph, harun maruf. Al shabaab is composed of many independent cells, units and divisions, which answer to multiple figureheads. A history of somalias insurgent movement it was formed in 2006 by young men and until recently controlled most of southern somalia but now its control of home territory has. The authors embed the groups history into the larger one of political islam in somalia and beyond. This book constitutes a unique compendium of insights into the insurgency and its impact. Al shabaab continues to kill civilians across east africa and undermine the viability of somalia. Background report alshabaab attack on garissa university. Background report al shabaab attack on garissa university in kenya on thursday, april 2, gunmen attacked garissa university in eastern kenya, near the border with somalia. Ethiopia, a part of the antishabaab coalition, is somalias ancient. Shabaab argues that somali hotels are legitimate targets because they serve as heavily fortified bases for the government and its allies. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group jarle hansen, stig on. Al shabaab definitely has a hierarchal structure, since each unit answers to a central leader.
The complete, concise history of alshabaab, the group. The organisation known as alshabaab originally emerged from the islamic courts union icu movement in somalia. Background report alshabaab attack on garissa university in. The complete, concise history of al shabaab, the group behind the kenyan mall attack. The secret history of al qaedas most powerful allyrecounts the rise, fall, and resurgence of this overlooked terrorist organization and provides an intimate understanding of its connections with al qaeda. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group, 20052012, p. There, the government has, with limited means, denied alshabaab the operational space it requires through the implementation of a virtuous circle that builds on local buyin and uses humint as a force multiplier. The threat to kenya and the horn of africa al shabaab, which means the youth or the boys in arabic is a militant islamist group founded and based in somalia. Somalias transitional federal government and its international and regional backers have sought military victory over the extremist group of al shabaab, branded by the u. Abstractthis paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group harakat al shabaab al mujahideen. Al shabab, or the youth, is an islamist insurgent group based in somalia. Alshabaab originated as a militia affiliated with the islamic courts union icu, a federation of.
Ethiopia, a part of the anti shabaab coalition, is somalias ancient. Inside al shabaab is the definitive history of the somali militant group, rich with newly disclosed details about the groups genesis and its ties to al qaeda. The rise of a jihadi movement in a country at war harakat al shabaab al mujaheddin in somalia roland marchal senior research fellow at cnrs sciencespo paris march 2011 this report is independent and does not represent the views of her majestys government. The pushback from al shabaab means it is far from clear whether the islamic state in somalia will be able to sustain its operational expansion. Jul 12, 2015 al shabaab is composed of many independent cells, units and divisions, which answer to multiple figureheads.
Drawing from interviews with former al shabaab militants, including highranking officials, military commanders, police. Al zawahiri approved and welcomed al shabaab as al qaedas somaliabased affiliate in a 15minute video response, stating today, i have glad tidings for the muslim ummah that will please the believers and disturb the disbelievers, which is the joining of the shabaab al mujahideen movement in somalia to qaeda al jihad, to support the jihadi. Oct 04, 20 amid the outrage against al shabaab, its important to recognise that terrorism does not happen outside of history. A history of somalias insurgent movement it was formed in 2006 by young men and until recently controlled most of southern somalia. The ideology of alshabaab 8 the history of islamism and jihadism in somalia 9 social control mechanisms applied by alshabaab 14 tactical culture 19 the al qaeda affiliation 22 foreign fighters in somalia 26 foreign fighters 19922006 26 noneuropean foreign fighters in alshabaab 31.
Inside alshabaab is the definitive history of the somali militant group, rich with newly disclosed details about the groups genesis and its ties to alqaeda. Kenya is a key base for fighting al shabaab, one of the worlds most resilient. A few al qaeda regional affiliates and jihadist networks have exhibited an intent or capability to attack inside the homeland. What is missing from the book, however, is female voices. Foreign service, including as ambassador to ethiopia and state department coordinator for somalia during the international intervention in. A brief history of somalias alshabab terror group huffpost. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group, explored the history. It is a golden chance for al shabaab to pick itself up off the mat.
In april 2015, al shabaab militants attacked kenyas garissa university college, killing at least 147. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group. Today, the international effort to help somalis build a federal state and achieve stability is challenged by deeprooted grievances, local conflicts and a powerful insurgency led by al shabaab. Aqam futures project case study series july 2011 project.
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