Its a great introduction for those new to the topic, but its also a landmark work and absolutely required reading for. Al shabaab, which has al qaeda ties and controls most of southern and central regions of the country, has historically banned international aid agencies from operating within territories under its control. Alshabaab in somalia the history and ideology of a militant. The group has experienced two dramatic transformations in its short history. 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. Though it has stated many goals in the past, the group fights first and foremost to create a fundamentalist islamic state in the horn of africa jonathan masters and mohammed aly sergie. The assault also cost alshabaab huge sums of money and brought existing tensions within the leadership to the fore. However, the al shabaab is not politically organized. Analyzed here are the ideologies of these two infamous organizations. Since early 2007 a new breed of combatants has appeared on the streets of mogadishu and other towns in somalia. 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. The secret history of alqaedas most powerful ally ebook written by dan joseph, harun maruf. Alshabaab in somalia is a judicious and timely study of a poorly understood militant islamist group.
Together with al shabaab, the two groups account for a substantial amount of carnage on the african continent. Alshabaabs composition is multiethnic, with its leadership positions mainly occupied by afghanistan and iraqtrained ethnic somalis and foreigners. 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. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group. July720 somali volunteers were selected by aden hashi farah eyrow to travel to lebanon to fight against the israelis. They already have the pattern of islamic state, which uses different regions and countries in order to avoid total eradication. Al shabaabs regional influence can also be dangerous because of the instability of the sahel region.
Rather it is a wellstructured organization composed of several independent components. Sep 22, 20 alshabaab fighters at a somali training camp, in an image taken from a video released by the group in 2009. The book s two parts provide a history of the mission from. Itself an offshoot of the islamic courts union, which split in 2006, shabaab has imposed sharia law and is also heavily. Alshabaab originated as a militia affiliated with the islamic courts union icu, a federation of. June 15, 2006alshabaab leader aden hashi farah eyrow, was said to have taken arms sent from eritrea see page 12. Clinton watts, senior fellow, foreign policy research institute 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. 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. He has put together a remarkably a remarkably detailed account of al shabaab s history and until the distant and unlikely day when something better comes along, al shabaab in somalia is the definitive book on the subject. 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. Radicalisation and alshabaab recruitment in somalia. The secret history of al qaedas most powerful ally.
Al shabaab says it carried out mogadishu bombing and shot manager of bossaso port. Alshabaabs first attack on kenyan soil was in 2008. Read the full comprehensive report, al shabaabs american recruits pdf. Al shabaabs version of islam and its extremist allies globally have proselytized over the past half century with generous financial resources and. 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. Car bomb kills at least 11 and port manager shot dead in somalia. Al shabaabs american recruits antidefamation league. Alshabab, or the youth, is an islamist insurgent group based in somalia. Utilizing information from breadcrumbs that they leave behind, in videos, media releases and various correspondence, this book searches for clues within the. He has put together a remarkably a remarkably detailed account of alshabaabs history and until the distant and unlikely day when something better comes along, alshabaab in somalia is the definitive book on the subject. Despite the groups defeat by somali and ethiopian forces in 2007, alshabaaba clanbased insurgent and terrorist grouphas continued its. Drawing from interviews with former alshabaab militants, including highranking officials, military commanders, police. A wave of americans traveling to somalia to fight with al shabaab, an al qaedalinked terrorist group, has been described by the fbi as one of the highest priorities in antiterrorism. Generally, the author provides a comprehensive and nuanced analysis of alshabaabs history, ideology, recruitment strategies, successes and failures from 2005 to 2012.
Together with alshabaab, the two groups account for a substantial amount of carnage on the african continent. The intervention from ethiopia, a longtime enemy of somalia, is considered to have radicalized alshabab and perhaps pushed it into the arms of. The history and ideology of a militant islamist group ebook written by stig jarle hansen. Forest have determined that alsha baab is aided in its quest by some fundamental realities of somali culture and history. 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. Harakat alshabaab almujahideen alshabaab mujahideen youth movement. The number of casualties caused by alshabaab increased at an even greater rate. Alshababs ideology is typically described as a brand of salafism and wahhabism that supports takfir, the excommunication of apostates or unbelievers. It was the best explanation of where the networks that make up alshabab come from that ive read, although it may just an excellent overview of the history of the somali alshabab group, one with many lessons or reminders of. 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. Aqam futures project case study series july 2011 project. The history of alshabaab south african history online. Background report alshabaab attack on garissa university in. If al shabaab manages to use the conflicts in the middle east and libya, it can spread further into sahel.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read inside alshabaab. Alshabaab in somalia the history and ideology of a. It further shows that alshabaab has not been a static organisation and that it has international connections with other terrorist groups. Alshabaab, at least for a time, was the most favored and successful of al qaedas socalled affiliates, racking up impressive victories and controlling large areas of.
Foreign service, including as ambassador to ethiopia and state department coordinator for somalia during the international intervention in. 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. 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. Beginning in 2006, the group waged an insurgency against somalias transitional federal government tfg. Sep 22, 20 the intervention from ethiopia, a longtime enemy of somalia, is considered to have radicalized al shabab and perhaps pushed it into the arms of al qaeda, according to the u. This research sought to uncover the answers to the following questions. Unlike most of the organizations top leaders, its foot soldiers are primarily concerned with. 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. Jul 15, 2011 al shabaab is an al qaedaaffiliated organization that has risen rapidly to prominence in the midst of somalias decadeslong anarchy.
The secret history of al qaedas most powerful ally ebook written by dan joseph, harun maruf. Al shabaab center for strategic and international studies. The reemergence of alshabaab was helped in no small part by the continuing ethiopian occupation of somalia, which created a fertile environment for recruitment to the alshabaab membership. The number of attacks attributed to alshabaab has increased rapidly from less than 10 in 2007 to more than 800 in 2014. The alshabaab terrorist organisation are largely thought to be behind these last two attacks and were thus the main focal point of this discussion. Alshabaab says it carried out mogadishu bombing and shot manager of bossaso port. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read inside al shabaab. Historical perspective, global presence, and implications for u. 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. Policy john rollins, coordinator specialist in terrorism and national security january 25, 2011 congressional research service 75700.
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. The reemergence of al shabaab was helped in no small part by the continuing ethiopian occupation of somalia, which created a fertile environment for recruitment to the al shabaab membership. A history of somalias insurgent movement it was formed in 2006 by young men and until recently controlled most of southern somalia. Shabaab released a twopage statement saying the jan. 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. Since then the kenyan government has responded with force.
Apr 24, 2019 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. This book reveals insights ive never seen during my 15 years in counterterrorisman excellent work. Abstract humanitarian response to the ongoing complex emergency in somalia is being further complicated by the actions of the terrorist group alshabaab. Alshabaab fighters at a somali training camp, in an image taken from a video released by the group in 2009. This necessitated intensive meetings and al qaeda mediation to resolve some of the disagreements within alshabaab, whilst godane, robow and others repeatedly denied speculation about splits within the group. Drawing from interviews with former al shabaab militants, including highranking officials, military commanders, police. Al shabab, or the youth, is an islamist insurgent group based in somalia. Al shabaab s composition is multiethnic, with its leadership positions mainly occupied by afghanistan and iraqtrained ethnic somalis and foreigners.
The history and ideology of a militant islamist group english isbn. Al shabaab is composed of many independent cells, units and divisions, which answer to multiple figureheads. According to the national counterterrorism center, the groups rankandfile members hail from disparate local groups, sometimes recruited by force. Al shabaab definitely has a hierarchal structure, since each unit answers to a central leader. Legislating reality and politicizing history pdf download. 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 number of attacks attributed to al shabaab has increased rapidly from less than 10 in 2007 to more than 800 in 2014. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The number of casualties caused by al shabaab increased at an even greater rate. In july 2010 alshabaab suicide bombers staged the groups first major attack outside somalia, killing about 75 people gathered in kampala, uganda, to watch a screening of a world cup. It once held sway over the capital of mogadishu and large portions of the somali countryside, but in. Kenya steps up the war against al shabaab before its elections. Originally the small, youth militia arm of a relatively moderate islamist organization. It is a golden chance for alshabaab to pick itself up off the mat.
This article contains a timeline of events for the somali militant group 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. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read alshabaab in somalia. 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. The al qaeda arm has other reasons for striking inside kenya as well, including the governments role in the guerrilla war in somalia. Hansen covers alshababs history starting with early protoislamist movements and groups started several decades ago.
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