Understanding somaliland 7 al shabaab2, a militant islamist movement with affiliations to the al qaeda network. Despite the groups defeat by somali and ethiopian forces in 2007, al shabaab a clanbased insurgent and. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group, 20052012 by stig jarle hansen london. The federal government of somalia fgs had limited control outside its capital city, mogadishu. Abstractthis paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group harakat al shabaab al mujahideen. 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. In february 2012, some of the groups leaders quarreled with alqaeda over the union, and quickly lost ground. Consequently al shabaab has retreated to the countryside having lost control of its urban stronghold. Armed conflict and state collapse since 1992 in somalia have resulted in. Historical background to the development of alshabaab. Al shabaab claimed that its attacks in kenya were meant to force kenyan troops to withdraw from somalia. Harakat alshabaab almujahideen more commonly known as alshabaab. Modern history of al shabaab while much of the icus leadership quickly fled the advancing ethiopians, members of al shabaab instead retreated into the swampy south of the country, from where they launched a bloody guerilla campaign against the ethiopian military in somalia.
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 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. The secret history of al qaedas most powerful ally harun maruf, dan joseph one of the most powerful islamic militant groups in africa, al shabaab exerts talibanlike rule over millions in somalia and poses a growing threat to stability in the horn of africa. In fact, they have surplus which enables them to replenish and supply new recruits. Using existing research and original interviews, this study outlines al shabaab s history. After that attack one of al shabaab s leaders, mohamed abdi godane, also known as abu zubayr, enthused that what happened in kampala was just the beginning. Alshabaab governance in the lower and middle jubba regions of somalia. Al shabaabs rise in the al qaeda network critical threats. Somalia faces a dual development trap which perpetuates instability and exclusion and exposes the country to the risk of backsliding. The impact of al shabab terrorist attacks in kenya. Ethiopia, a part of the anti shabaab coalition, is somalias ancient. The leaders of both of these groups have sworn their loyalty to the al qaeda leaders in pakistan, thus becoming an affiliate. Who are the east african jihadi group and what are their goals. The al qaeda arm has other reasons for striking inside kenya as well, including the governments role in the guerrilla war in somalia.
The alshabaab al mujahidiin therefore do not depend on external financing for military hardware. The attackers killed 147 and injured 79 before detonating suicide vests when cornered by security forces. According to the national counterterrorism center, the groups rankandfile members hail. 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. Country policy and information note somalia south and.
Although based in somalia, al shabaab also conducts attacks in neighboring. A few al qaeda regional affiliates and jihadist networks have exhibited an intent or capability to attack inside the homeland. In 2009, al shabaab was accused by somali president sheikh sharif ahmed of using child soldiers as well as the use of. 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. This report briefly examines al shabaab aka harakat shabaab al mujahidin, or mujahidin youth movement which is an insurgent and terrorist group that evolved out of a militant wing of somalias council of islamic courts in the mid2000s. A brief history of somalias alshabab terror group huffpost. Modern history of al shabaab while much of the icus leadership quickly fled the advancing ethiopians, members of al shabaab instead retreated into the swampy south of the country, from where they launched a bloody guerilla campaign against the ethiopian military. The groups rise, its ambitions beyond somalia, and recent signs that it is garnering greater attention from al qaeda central leaders suggest that al shabaab is an increasingly key player in the al qaeda network aqn. It is a golden chance for al shabaab to pick itself up off the mat. 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. Al shabaab controls most of southern and central somalia. Al shabaab imposes direct control and a strict interpretation of sharia law3 through portions of southcentral somalia and operates with impunity in the rest. A wealth of sources including us diplomatic cables released by wikileaks, letters taken from the pakistani hideout of osama bin laden, case files from the prosecution of american al shabaab members, emails from hillary clintons tenure as secretary of state, and al shabaab s own statements and recruiting videos inform maruf and josephs.
Harakat al shabaab al mujahideen, more commonly known as al shabaab meaning youth, is a clanbased jihadist terrorist group in east africa. 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. 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. In april 2015, al shabaab militants attacked kenyas garissa university college, killing at least 147. The al shabaab civilian infrastructure is comprised of economic, educational, and social units that serve the group at the grassroots level. 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. The group has waged an insurgency against the transitional federal government as well as the african union au peace keeping. Pdf this article sets out to explore the evolution, operational strategy and transnational.
Shabaab released a twopage statement saying the jan. Islamic extremists present in southern somalia and known for violent suicide attacks on mogadishu and neighbouring kenya. Al shabaab s insurgency one of the most intriguing times of somalias complex and violent history is the entrance of militant groups such as al shabaab the people islamist rebels. The ensuing years were marked by governance weakness, interclan war fare, and warlord control over much of. Aqam futures project case study series july 2011 project. 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. Memory, documents and secessionist politics in coastal. It has established local administrations in the areas under its. Godane served as alshababs spiritual and political leader from 2008 until his death in 2014. In 2012, it pledged allegiance to the militant islamist organization alqaeda.
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. The ensuing years were marked by governance weakness, interclan war fare, and warlord control over much of somalia. The history of alshabaab south african history online. 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. Counterterrorism and counterinsurgency in somalia rand. The complete, concise history of al shabaab, the group behind the kenyan mall attack. Alshabaabs troop strength was estimated at 7,000 to 9,000 militants. Armed conflict and state collapse since 1992 in somalia have resulted in over 1,000,000 international refugees and 2. Although peace negotiations led to the inclusion of moderate islamist forces into the tfg, the withdrawal of ethiopian forces from somalia in january 2009 and the election of president sheikh sharif, a moderate islamist, al shabaab continued its fight. Beginning in 2006, the group waged an insurgency against somalias transitional federal government tfg.
The history and ideology of a militant islamist group 1st ed. Its a great introduction for those new to the topic, but its also a landmark work and absolutely required reading for. The organisation known as alshabaab originally emerged from the islamic courts union icu movement in somalia. An internet search provides many documents whether genuine or not on the intimate. Al shabaab militants attacked kenyas westgate mall in 2011, sparking a fourday siege in which at least sixtyeight people were killed. The harakat shabaab al mujahidincommonly known as al shabaab was the militant wing of the somali council of islamic courts that took over most of southern somalia in the second half of 2006. 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. Al shabaab, as well as outside actors, retain the ability to extract natural resource and protection rents and destabilize the country. Originating as the militant youth wing of the somali council of islamic courts icu, which took over southern somalia in june 2006, the group splintered off following the defeat of the council in december 2006 to continue violent insurgency. The views expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the. Harakat alshabaab almujahideen, more commonly known as alshabaab, is a terrorist, jihadist fundamentalist group based in east africa.
Alshabaab announced its alliance with alqaeda in 2008, and in 2015, boko haram pledged allegiance to the islamic state. Alshabaab originated as a militia affiliated with the islamic courts union icu, a federation of alshabaab, somali. The culture of terrorist propaganda in subsaharan africa. Roland marchal senior research fellow at cnrs sciencespo. This research sought to uncover the answers to the following questions. 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. This document is a standalone version of the al shebab case study used in the. This document is a standalone version of the alshebab case study used in the. Foreign service, including as ambassador to ethiopia and state department coordinator for somalia during the international intervention in. Information about the iagcis work and a list of the coi documents which have. 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 alqaedaaligned.