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. As hansen notes in his conclusion, this weakness is not unique to alshabaab. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group, 20052012 by stig jarle hansen london. What is missing from the book, however, is female voices. This brief synopsis of alshabaab is a thoroughly enjoyable read behind the group that has caused so much turmoil in east africa. That is certainly true of alshabaab, which was born out of the islamic court. 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 connections with al qaeda. It is a golden chance for alshabaab to pick itself up off the mat. Alshabaab fighters at a somali training camp, in an image taken from a video released by the group in 2009.
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. Alzawahiri approved and welcomed alshabaab as alqaedas 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 almujahideen movement in somalia to qaeda aljihad, to support the jihadi. The study found that al shabaab emerged from some islamic movement with the goal of establishing an. The wfp reports that since 2008, 14 of its employees have been killed by al shabaab. Somalias transitional federal government and its international and regional backers have sought military victory over the extremist group of alshabaab, branded by the u. 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. 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. These challenges facing alshabaabs internationalists raise questions about the capacity of this brand of islamic thought to shape a societys grand narratives in ways that challenge the parochialisms of somali politics and society. The group has waged an insurgency against the transitional federal government as well as the african union au peace keeping.
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. Since the alqaeda terrorist group struck in the united states in september 2011, the upsurge of terrorism has become more frequent and deadly globally. Security crackdowns have blunted its capacity to stage regular assaults, but complacency could roll back those gains, as could failure to. Harakat alshebab almujahideen the movement of mujahidin youth, or alshebab, is an qaedaal aqaffiliated violent jihadist group based in southern and central somalia. Not much of his history is known other than to have undergone considerable islamic teaching in saudi arabia and. Alshabab, or the youth, is an islamist insurgent group based in somalia. Dalha ali has spent the past five years living and studying at alhidaya mosque in mogadishu, learning the ways. The attackers killed 147 and injured 79 before detonating suicide vests when cornered by security forces. Aqam futures project case study series july 2011 project. 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.
How somaliland combats alshabaab combating terrorism. 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. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group, explored the history. 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. The secret history of alqaedas most powerful ally, african affairs, volume 118. Amid the outrage against alshabaab, its important to recognise that terrorism does not happen outside of history. Jul 04, 2019 the somali terrorist group, al shabaab has been waging a campaign of violence in somalia for more than a decade. Al shabaab has used the presence of aid agencies to its advantage. 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. The complete, concise history of alshabaab, the group. 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. This research sought to uncover the answers to the following questions. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group jarle hansen, stig on.
Ethiopia, a part of the antishabaab 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 qaeda affiliates today and the first to conquer large territories. Foreign service, including as ambassador to ethiopia and state department coordinator for somalia during the international intervention in. Alshabab, or the youth, is an alqaidalinked militant group and u.
Oct 04, 20 amid the outrage against al shabaab, its important to recognise that terrorism does not happen outside of history. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group, 2005. The history of alshabaab south african history online. 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 shabaabs history with humanitarian assistance critical. 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, militant group. 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. Five years after an attack on nairobis westgate mall, alshabaab appears committed to striking targets across east africa.
Forest have determined that alsha baab is aided in its quest by some fundamental realities of somali culture and history. Godane served as al shababs spiritual and political leader from 2008 until his death in 2014. 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. 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. 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 history and ideology of a militant islamist group, 20052012, by stig jarle hansen. However, the al shabaab is not politically organized. Background report alshabaab attack on garissa university in. 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 history and ideology of a militant islamist group. Al shabaabs attacks on aid workers and agencies offices have made most of southern and central somalia inaccessible. Al shabaab definitely has a hierarchal structure, since each unit answers to a central leader. Its a great introduction for those new to the topic, but its also a landmark work and absolutely required reading for.
In june 2016, al shabaab attacked the ambassador hotel in mogadishu and killed 16 people, includ. 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. Pdf this article sets out to explore the evolution, operational strategy and transnational dimensions of. 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. Using sociology of education, with emphasis on indoctrination, the article explored al shabaab as an emerging terrorist group in somalia. Using existing research and original interviews, this study outlines al. The pushback from alshabaab means it is far from clear whether the islamic state in somalia will be able to sustain its operational expansion. One of the most powerful islamic groups in africa with connections to alqaeda. Despite the groups defeat by somali and ethiopian forces in 2007, alshabaaba clanbased insurgent and. 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. A history of somalias insurgent movement it was formed in 2006 by young men and until recently controlled most of southern somalia. The organisation known as alshabaab originally emerged from the islamic courts union icu movement in somalia. 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.
The somali terrorist group, alshabaab has been waging a campaign of violence in somalia for more than a decade. A few al qaeda regional affiliates and jihadist networks have exhibited an intent or capability to attack inside the homeland. 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. Drawing from interviews with former al shabaab militants, including highranking officials, military commanders, police. 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. Drawing from interviews with former alshabaab militants, including highranking officials, military commanders, police.
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. Abstractthis paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group harakat alshabaab almujahideen. The alshabaab terrorist organisation are largely thought to be behind these last two attacks and were thus the main focal point of this discussion. A brief history of somalias alshabab terror group huffpost. This brief synopsis of al shabaab is a thoroughly enjoyable read behind the group that has caused so much turmoil in east africa. Draws on interviews from former alshabaab militants and commanders, us relations to the group and the 2006 us invasion of somalia.
Al qaeda will continue its efforts to encourage key regional affiliates and jihadist networks to pursue a global agenda. Their aim is to replace the unbacked government and impose islamic law. Aqam futures project case study series case study number 2 july 2011 project directors. Calling for an expulsion of the ethiopians and the formation of an islamic state in somalia, al shabaab rallied considerable. That is certainly true of al shabaab, which was born out of the islamic court. Roland marchal senior research fellow at cnrs sciencespo. The study found that alshabaab emerged from some islamic movement with the goal of establishing an.
Besides these accounts of ordinary lives, the book by maruf and joseph also follows up the biographies of several keyfigures in the extremist islamist scene in somalia, such as ibrahim alafghani, ahmed abdi godane and mukhtar robow, who, often after education andor training in pakistan andor afghanistan turn up as leaders of alshabaab. The organisation known as al shabaab originally emerged from the islamic courts union icu movement in somalia. Alshabaab originated as a militia affiliated with the. Alshabaab has struggled and largely failed to establish itself in the independent but unrecognized republic of somaliland. Historical background to the development of alshabaab. 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. Sep 22, 20 alshabaab fighters at a somali training camp, in an image taken from a video released by the group in 2009.
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 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. Al shabaab is composed of many independent cells, units and divisions, which answer to multiple figureheads. Alshabaab originated as a militia affiliated with the islamic courts union icu, a federation of. Rather it is a wellstructured organization composed of several independent components. It once held sway over the capital of mogadishu and large portions of the somali countryside, but in. Modern history of al shabaab while much of the icus leadership quickly fled the ad. Al shabaab has struggled and largely failed to establish itself in the independent but unrecognized republic of somaliland. Al shabab, or the youth, is an islamist insurgent group based in somalia. Godane served as alshababs spiritual and political leader from 2008 until his death in 2014. 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. Despite the groups defeat by somali and ethiopian forces in 2007, alshabaaba clanbased insurgent and terrorist grouphas continued its. 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 alshabaabs history an.
Al shabaab continues to kill civilians across east africa and undermine the viability of somalia. 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. Jul 12, 2015 al shabaab is composed of many independent cells, units and divisions, which answer to multiple figureheads. 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. Beginning in 2006, the group waged an insurgency against somalias transitional federal government tfg.