However, alshabaabs purge of external influences, reliance on. Jul 12, 2015 al shabaab was organized in 2006 from a multiethnic group of individuals. The somali terrorist group, alshabaab has been waging a campaign of violence in somalia for more than a decade. Al zawahiri approved and welcomed al shabaab as al qaedas somalia based 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. Since the end of the ethiopian occupation in 2008, alshabab has continued to its efforts to establish sharia domestically and attack government representatives and african mission forces, while also adapting its foreign targets from ethiopia to kenya following a brief kenyan invasion in 2011. Implications of the al qaedaal shabaab relationship. In july 2010 alshabaab suicide bombers staged the groups first major attack outside somalia, killing about 75 people gathered in kampala. Pdf on apr 4, 2014, james forest and others published countering the al shabaab insurgency in somalia. Alshabaab continued to kill civilians see sections 1. A tentative assessment of the somali harakat alshabaab. Alshabaab continued to extend the area under its control in 2009, banning behaviours that it deemed unislamic and implementing punishments including beheading, stoning, and amputation for offenders. How the ethiopian intervention and the war on terror exacerbated the conflict in somalia, third world quarterly 2018. Al shabaab, meaning the youth in arabic, is the largest militant organization fighting to oust the somali government and the foreign military presence supporting it. Al shabaab harakat al shabaab al mujahideen is a jihadi insurgent group active in somalia and, in recent years, increasingly in kenya.
Using existing research and original interviews, this study outlines alshabaabs history and fundin. Channel 4 news reports from inside a jihadist training camp in somalia where the much feared alshabaab is training hundreds of fighters from around the world. Islamic courts unions icu leader sheikh aweys began what. Al shabab, or the youth, is an islamist insurgent group based in somalia. This case study report asks under which circumstances alshabaab. Since the alqaeda terrorist group struck in the united states in september 2011, the upsurge of terrorism has become more frequent and deadly globally. Al shabaab s members employ mass violence, often suicidal, in order to ensure that eastern africans strictly adhere to islam. Originally the small, youth militia arm of a relatively moderate islamist organization that rose to power in somalia in early 2006, al shabaab was radicalized and brought to. A brave attempt to both historicize and scrutinize al shabaab, it is a mustread for anyone wishing to understand a group that has unleashed havoc in parts of africa. Understanding the range of womens relationships to alshabaab is critical to countering the group going forward.
While alshabaab is most active in somalia, it has also committed numerous attacks in. Al shabaab is an al qaedaaffiliated organization that has risen rapidly to prominence in the midst of somalia s decadeslong anarchy. 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. On 8 may 2009, alshabaab reinforced by a faction of hizbul islam and former. Third, we outline the security vulnerabilities in the areas of somalia where alshebab operates. The focus of this study, however, is the al shabaab attacks in kenya. While al shabaab is most active in somalia, it has also committed numerous attacks in kenya, which has contributed troops to military missions in somalia and hosts large numbers of somali refugees. 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.
Radicalisation and alshabaab recruitment in somalia. Read al shabaab in somalia online, read in mobile or kindle. The killings included alshabaabs execution of persons it accused of spying for and collaborating with the fgs, somali national forces, affiliated militias, and western security forces. Alshabaab has become one of africas deadliest terrorist groups in recent years through its use of improvised explosive devices, or ieds. Women form an important social base for the islamist alshabaab insurgency in somalia. The study found that alshabaab emerged from some islamic movement with the.
Using existing research and original interviews, this study outlines alshabaabs history and funding sources. Members of islamic state in somalia clash with alshabaab fighters in the northern puntland region in december 2018. Alshabaab literally meaning the youngsters was the radical, hard. Al shabaab validated themselves as a serious threat to people in the horn of africa through the brazen attack on the upmarket westgate mall. Originally the small, youth militia arm of a relatively moderate islamist organization that rose to power in somalia in early 2006, al shabaab was. In east africa, alshabaab is the biggest threat to the security of the region. Deutsche zeitschrift fur gegenwartsbezogene afrikaforschung 533.
Alshabaab validated themselves as a serious threat to people in the horn of africa through the brazen attack on the upmarket westgate mall. Women and al shabaabs insurgency crisis group africa briefing n145 nairobibrussels, 27 june 2019 whats new. Al shabaab is an al qaedaaffiliated organization that has risen rapidly to prominence in the midst of somalias decadeslong anarchy. Operating from the failed state of somalia, the al qaida affiliated group has been behind several attacks in the region, particularly in the past 5 years. Alshabaabs members employ mass violence, often suicidal, in order to ensure that eastern africans strictly adhere to islam. Ethiopia, a part of the antishabaab coalition, is somalias ancient. Using sociology of education, with emphasis on indoctrination, the article explored al shabaab as an emerging terrorist group in somalia. The stated goal of alshabaab, also known as harakat alshabaab almujahideeand, is the creation of a fundamentalist islamic state in somalia. While this is a longterm outlook, in the short term, as the link between al shabaab and al qaeda strengthens, there likely will be a shift in al shabaab s operational doctrine. The organisation known as alshabaab originally emerged from the islamic courts union icu movement in somalia.
While this is a longterm outlook, in the short term, as the link between al shabaab and al qaeda strengthens, there likely will be a shift in al shabaabs operational doctrine. Drawing from interviews with former alshabaab militants, including highranking officials, military commanders, police. The al shabaabal qaeda relationship was strengthened after ahmed abdi godanealso called mukhtar abu zubeyrbecame al shabaabs top leader in 2008. Aqam futures project case study series july 2011 project. Alshabaabs competitor islamic statesomalia targeted. The alshabaab almujahidiin is an offshoot of somalias recent islamic courts union which evolved from a grassroots community driven islamic jihad movement inspired by somali islamic scholars who were trained in saudi arabia as wahhabi sect followers. In east africa, al shabaab is the biggest threat to the security of the region. 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 world. Al shabaab in somalia is a judicious and timely study of a poorly understood militant islamist group. Downbutnotout hspiissue%brief%22 august27,%20 navan. Jul 04, 2019 the somali terrorist group, al shabaab has been waging a campaign of violence in somalia for more than a decade. Somalias alshabaab down but far from out crisis group. In fact, recent reports suggest that the flow of foreign fighters into somalia has been steadily increasing in the past few months.
Al shabaab has not given up its ambition to control greater somalia, and it retains the ability to retake territory, particularly if the united states and its allies fail to effectively deal with the challenges outlined. The study found that al shabaab emerged from some islamic movement with the goal of establishing an. Al shabaab center for strategic and international studies. May 07, 2008 in fact, recent reports suggest that the flow of foreign fighters into somalia has been steadily increasing in the past few months. This paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group harakat alshabaab almujahideen. The focus of this study, however, is the alshabaab attacks in kenya. By mid2011 alshabaab appeared to be on the defensive. Review of inside al shabaab article pdf available in afrika spectrum. As emir, godane published a statement that praised al qaeda and emphasized the struggle in somalia as part of a global jihad, a shift from al shabaabs previous rhetoric. 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. Originally the small, youth militia arm of a relatively moderate islamist organization.
Al shabab continues to conduct attacks both within somalia and in neighboring kenya, including a january 15, 2019, attack on an upscale nairobi hotel complex in which at least. It once held sway over the capital of mogadishu and large portions of the somali countryside, but in. Alshabaab alshabaab, which emerged from the islamic courts union icu in 2007, was among the most active terrorist groups in the world in 2014, according to preliminary data from starts global terrorism database gtd. Many had fought in afghanistan in the 1990s as well as during the fall of the siad government. Their aim is to replace the unbacked government and impose islamic law. 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. Dec 22, 2017 islamist militant group al shabab is battling the unbacked government in somalia, and has carried out a string of attacks across the region. The attackers killed 147 and injured 79 before detonating suicide vests when cornered by security forces. 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. Background report alshabaab attack on garissa university in.
In fact, since 2018, the group has gained momentum and deepened its political entrenchment, prompting some. 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. Special operations forces graham turbiville josh meservey james forest jsou report 141 february 2014 joint special operations university 7701 tampa point boulevard macdill afb fl 33621. One understudied source of its resilience is the support of women, active and passive, despite the movements stringent gender ideology. Alshabaab claimed the attack as retaliation for ugandan troops participation in amisom. Al shabaabs foreign threat to somalia article pdf available in orbis 552. Alshabaab drew further international condemnation for first banning and then restricting assistance from international aid groups in southern somalia during a deadly drought and famine in 2011.
The secret history of alqaedas most powerful ally recounts the rise, fall, and resurgence of this overlooked terrorist organization and provides an intimate understanding of its connections with alqaeda. Alshabab, or the youth, is an islamist insurgent group based in somalia. Alshabab, or the youth, is an alqaidalinked militant group and u. Since it emerged from the islamic courts union icu in 2007, al shabaab has carried out more than 1700 terrorist. Since the al qaeda terrorist group struck in the united states in september 2011, the upsurge of terrorism has become more frequent and deadly globally.
Background report alshabaab attack on garissa university. On 21 september 20, the world watched with horror as a group. Alshabaab harakat alshabaab almujahideen is a jihadi insurgent group active in somalia and, in recent years, increasingly in kenya. Country policy and information note somalia south and. Jsou report 141 alshabaab turbiville, meservey, and forest countering the alshabaab insurgency in somalia. Third, we outline the security vulnerabilities in the areas of somalia where al shebab operates. Alshabaab was organized in 2006 from a multiethnic group of individuals. A brave attempt to both historicize and scrutinize alshabaab, it is a mustread for anyone wishing to understand a group that has unleashed havoc in parts of africa. Download al shabaab in somalia ebook free in pdf and epub format. Despite the groups defeat by somali and ethiopian forces in 2007, alshabaaba clanbased insurgent and terrorist grouphas continued its. Alshabaab remains one of somalias most powerful political and military actors. They had come from mainly tribal groups who had regional interests in local affairs. Alshabab continues to conduct attacks both within somalia and in neighboring kenya, including a january 15, 2019, attack on an upscale nairobi hotel complex in which at least.
The stated goal of al shabaab, also known as harakat al shabaab al mujahideeand, is the creation of a fundamentalist islamic state in somalia. Al shabab views the amisom, as well as the somalia. Alshabaab, somalias islamist insurgency, is diminished but still potent. At least 12 soldiers killed after alqaedalinked group deploys a suicide bomber in a vehicle and dozens of fighters. These understudied realities partly explain the insurgencys resilience. Jul 15, 2011 al shabaab is an al qaedaaffiliated organization that has risen rapidly to prominence in the midst of somalias decadeslong anarchy. Jsou report 141 al shabaab turbiville, meservey, and forest countering the alshabaab insurgency in somalia. Foreign service, including as ambassador to ethiopia and state department coordinator for somalia during the international intervention in. The history of alshabaab south african history online. Alshabaab in somalia is a judicious and timely study of a poorly understood militant islamist group. Since the end of the ethiopian occupation in 2008, al shabab has continued to its efforts to establish sharia domestically and attack government representatives and african mission forces, while also adapting its foreign targets from ethiopia to kenya following a brief kenyan invasion in 2011. Alshabaab responds on december 20, 2018, alshabaab released a statement from ali mahmud rage in which he authorized alshabaab members to target islamic stateloyal individuals in somalia. Some help it recrui t, generate funds and carry out operations. It is a golden chance for alshabaab to pick itself up off the mat.