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. Harakat alshabaab almujahideen more commonly known as alshabaab. Alshabab remains capable of carrying out massive attacks in somalia and surrounding. Rather it is a wellstructured organization composed of several independent components. Tweet describes the photo as mujahideen of east africa. In june 1910, a similar incident occurred in the coastal village of hays where the dervishes, out of religious fundamentalism, exhumed the body of a british sailor who had died at sea and buried there. Aqam futures project case study series july 2011 project. It once held sway over the capital of mogadishu and large portions of the somali countryside, but in. The group frequently attacked international targets in somalia, and it conducted a terrorist attack in kampala in 2010 as continued. Alshabab formally pledged allegiance to alqaeda in 2012, though ties between them existed since 2008, when the americanborn alqaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap cleric anwar alawlaki released a statement praising alshabab for fighting against the u. A brief history of somalias alshabab terror group huffpost.
Downbutnotout hspiissue%brief%22 august27,%20 navan. 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 impact of al shabab terrorist attacks in kenya. Other various tfgallied groups throughout somalia are estimated to control militias ranging in strength from hundreds to thousands. As aweys importance grew within the icu, he passed leadership of al shabaab on to one of his followers, aden hashi ayro. 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 ethiopian occupation was responsible pdf for transforming the group from a small.
The history and ideology of a militant islamist group. Pdf this article sets out to explore the evolution, operational strategy and transnational dimensions of harakat alshabab. 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. Al qaeda will continue its efforts to encourage key regional affiliates and jihadist networks to pursue a global agenda. This brief synopsis of al shabaab is a thoroughly enjoyable read behind the group that has caused so much turmoil in east africa. Al shabaab militants attacked kenyas westgate mall in 2011, sparking a fourday siege in which at least sixtyeight people were killed. Country information and guidance south and central somalia.
Amisom african union mission in somalia amniyad al shabaab s intelligence w ing as al shabaab asne al shabaab northeast aswj ahlu sunna wal jamaa cctv closedcircuit television cid criminal investigations department danab. In 2011, the kenyan government started an operation called operation linda nchi meaning operation protect the nation. Easo country of origin information report south and central somalia country overview 9 disclaimer this report was written according to the easo coi report methodology 20121. Previously, in september 2015, dis published the report south central somalia country of origin information for use in the asylum determination process3. Roland marchal senior research fellow at cnrs sciencespo. Formed in 2006 by young men alshabaab means the youth in arabic who were the armed militia for the islamic courts union, somalias onetime rulers, it has been fighting the countrys westernbacked government and its allies in a war to impose a strict interpretation of islamic law. On the dervishes deeds, see jardine, the mad mullah, p. Alshabaab terrorists propaganda and the kenya government. Their origins are not clearly known, but former members say hizbul shabaab was founded as early as 2004. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group jarle hansen, stig on. Alshababs attack on nairobis westgate shopping mall in september 20 led many to question whether it signified the groups increased focus on international targets. His assistant answered and handed the phone to dhere, who spoke to the caller and then told the assistant, leave. Alshabaab originated as a militia affiliated with the islamic courts union icu, a federation of.
Al shabaab definitely has a hierarchal structure, since each unit answers to a central leader. Shabaab al mujahideen announces merger with hizbulislam pdf. The ensuing years were marked by governance weakness, interclan war fare, and warlord control over much of somalia. Today, al shabaab is a capable fighting force that implements a strict version of sharia in key areas of somalia.
Alshabaab originated as a militia affiliated with the islamic courts union icu, a federation of alshabaab, somali. It is a golden chance for al shabaab to pick itself up off the mat. That is certainly true of alshabaab, which was born out of the islamic court union, a loose formation of islamic judicial systems that managed to restore some sort of civil order after years of a violent anarchy in somalia, opening the mogadishu airport and. The left picture shows the clan structure of somalia, which was the factional dividing line in the civil war. He holds a seat on the shura council and is believed to be in charge of al shabaab s operations in puntland. The roots of alshabaab lie with al itihaad al islamiya aiai, a militant group of. Al shabaab claimed that its attacks in kenya were meant to force kenyan troops to withdraw from somalia. Despite military pressure and global efforts to starve it of financing, the group continues to operate effectively, allowing it to function as a quasi. The alshabaab faces multiple internal divisions over clan, leadership, tactics, and ideology which a new unity government can exploit to convince parts of the al shabaab to abandon the movement and gradually outmaneuver, marginalize, and defeat the core hardlinersken menkhaus, 2009. Jun 12, 2014 who is al shabaab and how did they become a major force in somalia. 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. This piece is part of a series of al shabaab leadership profiles fuad mohamed qalaf, also known as shongole, is a senior member in al shabaab.
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. Nonetheless, according to a committee on foreign relations report pdf to the senate in 2010. Dalha ali has spent the past five years living and studying at alhidaya mosque in mogadishu, learning the ways. Al shabaabs history with humanitarian assistance critical. Al shabaab s composition is multiethnic, with its leadership positions mainly occupied by afghanistan and iraqtrained ethnic somalis and foreigners. Al shabab is an offshoot of some of those movements. Dec 22, 2017 it was forced out of the capital, mogadishu, in august 2011 following an offensive spearheaded by about 22,000 african union au troops, and left the vital port of kismayo in september 2012. Other central members of the group, such as mahad karate, sheikh hassan dahir aweys, or the current emir, ahmed diriye aka abu ubaidah, are characterized in. Al qaeda, broadbased militant islamist organization founded by osama bin laden in the late 1980s.
The history of alshabaab south african history online. August 31, 2015 photo of an al shabaab brigade tweeted from an islamic state affiliated twitter account. The impact of restricting and depleting al shabaab s financing 27. 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. Treasury department sanctions under president barack obamas executive order concerning somalia, issued. Alshabaabs spokesman ali dhere was at a home in the central town of galhareri on the evening of september 1 when his phone rang.
For more on the history and development of al shabaab check out this report from the center for strategic and international studies, which we relied on heavily for this article. 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. 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 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. It was forced out of the capital, mogadishu, in august 2011 following an offensive spearheaded by about 22,000 african union au troops, and left. Drawing from interviews with former alshabaab militants, including highranking officials, military commanders, police, and foot soldiers, authors harun maruf and dan joseph. Al shabaab arabic for the youth, an islamic militant group that seeks to create an islamic state in somalia, formed in 2004 as the militant wing of the islamic courts union icu, a network of islamist militant tribes. In april 2015, al shabaab militants attacked kenyas garissa university college, killing at least 147. This combination challenged alshabaabs position in the south and drove the islamists from the important port city of kismayo. Ethiopia, a part of the anti shabaab coalition, is somalias ancient. 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. Al shabaab was accountable for 77 % of the reported cases.
The organisation known as alshabaab originally emerged from the islamic courts union icu movement in somalia. Shabaab control and presence, al shabaab target groups in areas with amisom presence, recruitment to al shabaab, and possible al shabaab target groups in areas under al shabaab control. 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. Alshabab, which means the youth in arabic, started as a small faction of radicalized islamists in somalias islamic courts union, an alliance of sharia courts. This slide allows me to summarize doctrine and objectives. This came after the al shabaab were blamed for a series of. The ensuing years were marked by governance weakness, interclan war fare, and warlord control over much of.
Who is al shabaab and how did they become a major force in somalia. 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. The secret history of alqaedas most powerful allyrecounts the rise, fall, and resurgence of this overlooked terrorist organization and provides an intimate understanding of its connections with alqaeda. Alshabaab and alqaeda appear to coordinate the administration of training camps in the south. Somalia suffered a severe famine during 2011, further weakening alshabaab. 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. Easo country of origin information report somalia security. Alshabaab experienced another setback in september 2012 when they lost control of kismayo, a port city in southern somalia and a major source of revenue for the group. It is a golden chance for alshabaab to pick itself up off the mat. Alshabab, or the youth, is an islamist insurgent group based in somalia. Using existing research and original interviews, this study outlines al shabaab s history and fundin. The icu began as a loose grouping of sharia courts that by 2006 had grown into a powerful islamic militia which enjoyed control over. This paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group harakat al shabaab al mujahideen. Not much of his history is known other than to have undergone considerable islamic teaching in saudi arabia and.
It once held sway over the capital of mogadishu and large portions of the somali countryside, but in recent years an african unionled military campaign has pushed it back from major population centers. 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. Despite the growing challenges, alshabaab was still capable of carrying out spectacular attacks that captured international attention. Apr 24, 2019 alshabaab is portrayed as a resilient group that functions in complex ways which are not in line with a cliche image sometimes drawn about such groups as manned by brainwashed, deathaffine zombies. In east africa, al shabaab is the biggest threat to the security of the region.
The report is based on carefully selected sources of information. The secret history of al qaedas most powerful ally recounts the rise, fall, and resurgence of this overlooked terrorist organization and provides an intimate understanding of. Its a great introduction for those new to the topic, but its also a landmark work and absolutely required reading for. Its range is enhanced by training camps from which many western muslims have graduated. Forest have determined that al sha baab is aided in its quest by some fundamental realities of somali culture and history. A few al qaeda regional affiliates and jihadist networks have exhibited an intent or capability to attack inside the homeland. 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. According to the national counterterrorism center, the groups rankandfile members hail from disparate local groups, sometimes recruited by force. 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. What is missing from the book, however, is female voices.
Al shabaab, however, still controls a number of rural areas and supply routes between towns see al shabaab. Yet since its inception in 20062007, alshabab has always issued global rhetoric. On al shabaab s activities, see hansen, al shabaab, p. The icu took over somalias government in 2006, but the coalition was removed from power with help from the united states mere months later.
The attackers killed 147 and injured 79 before detonating suicide vests when cornered by security forces. Omar hammami aka al amriki, a uscitizen of syrianamerican origin, is featured as important actor who represents the foreign fighters who at one point played a major role in al shabaab. Alshabaab was formed as the militant wing of the islamic courts union icu, a coalition of 11 local sharia courts, as early as 2004 but did not become truly active until 2006. Indeed, one of the movements key strengths has long been its ability to manage divergence and. Forest have determined that alsha baab is aided in its quest by some fundamental realities of somali culture and history. Beginning in 2006, the group waged an insurgency against somalias transitional federal government tfg. This has made al shabaab a significant security concern to several countries, including the united states. The four bullet points are my key points about al shabab. Foreign service, including as ambassador to ethiopia and state department coordinator for somalia during the international intervention in. Al shabaabs primary goal is to topple the somali government and establish an islamic emirate within the country guided by a strict reading of shariah law. That is certainly true of alshabaab, which was born out of the islamic court union, a loose formation of islamic judicial systems that managed to restore some sort of civil order after years of a violent anarchy in somalia, opening the mogadishu airport and earning the support from a somali majority.
Background report alshabaab attack on garissa university in. Sep 22, 20 alshabaab fighters at a somali training camp, in an image taken from a video released by the group in 2009. 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. It began as a logistical network to support muslims fighting against the soviet union during the afghan war and transformed into the active terrorist organization known for. However, the al shabaab is not politically organized. Consequently al shabaab has retreated to the countryside having lost control of its urban strongholds, including mogadishu, baidoa and kismayo.
Jul 12, 2015 al shabaab is composed of many independent cells, units and divisions, which answer to multiple figureheads. Shabaab control and presence, alshabaab target groups in areas with amisom presence, recruitment to alshabaab, and possible alshabaab target groups in areas under alshabaab control. 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. Country policy and information note somalia south and. In seventeen chapters the book by maruf and joseph outlines the emergence and the yearby year developments of 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. Country policy and information note somalia south and central. Alshabaab militant group wikipedia republished wiki 2. The harakat al shabaab al mujaahidiin the movement for youth jihadists, a militant organization based in somalia, has long attracted western observers of security and terrorism, and featured in. Historical background to the development of alshabaab.
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