Hoehne 2018 - Review of Inside Al Shabaab.pdf (original) (raw)
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African Studies Review
Stig Jarle Hansen, in a revised paperback version of his 2013 publication Al-Shabaab in Somalia: The History and Ideology of a Militant Islamist Group, explores "how international ideology and local dynamics fused to produce one of Somalia's most efficient political organizations" (vii). In nine chapters and a postscript, Hansen outlines the place of Islamic religion in the group's emergence (Chapter 2), its expansive phases and accomplishments from 2005 to 2010 (Chapters 3 through 6), and its travails and defeats (Chapters 7 and 8). In Chapter 9 and the postscript, he assesses the group's endurance despite its internal divisions and a series of defeats by the combined forces of the Somali transitional government and its allies from Ethiopia, Kenya, the African Union, and the United Nations. Hansen relies on extensive field research, the result of multiple visits to Somalia and numerous field interviews with leaders of al-Shabaab, officers of the African Union Mission in Somalia, and officials of the Transitional Federal Government, as well as with academics and Somali citizens, to draw interesting insights about al-Shabaab's origin, ideology, expansion, and "connection" with regional and global al-Qaeda groups, as well as its connection to local aspirations. Hansen argues that al-Shabaab's international connections were strong from the beginning, although it has struggled to maintain ideological unity while coping with internal division (12). He locates the origin of al-Shabaab in the activities of a loose network of defensive jihad veterans of the Afghan war (1979-1989). These veterans, who on return to Somalia advocated a wider ummah (Muslim community) against Western intrusion in Somalia, inspired the Somalis who later became al-Shabaab's leaders. Their message drew a new generation of Somalis into defensive international jihad, particularly after the 9/11 attacks, when the United States attacked Afghanistan in search of al-Qaeda and its affiliates. Locally, clan politics and the clashes between warlords and the transitional government of Somalia resulted in fierce wars and insecurity. The conflicts in Somalia were multipolar; warring parties and affiliations were not clear. A variety of factions, including criminal groups, were fighting for a variety of targets, and these wars led to losses
The Rise and Decline of al-Shabab in Somalia (Turkish Review 4, no. 4 [2014], 386-395)
This article traces the rise and decline of the Somali jihadi-insurgent group al-Shabab from 2006 to 2014. Particular attention is paid to the group’s implementation of a philistine and coercive interpretation of Shariah in areas under its control, the political economy of insurgent violence, local governing administrations, and internal schisms and recent deadly infighting. The group’s potential future trajectory is also assessed. Please see the references (end notes) at: http://www.turkishreview.org/newsDetail\_getNewsById.action?sectionId=360&newsId=223635
Terrorism without Borders: Somalia's Al-Shabab and the Global Jihad Network
Journal of Terrorism Research, 5(1): 27-34 (Special Issue), 2014
This article sets out to explore the evolution, operational strategy and transnational dimensions of Harakat Al-Shabab al-mujahedeen (aka Al-Shabab), the Somali-based Islamist terrorist group. The article argues that Al-Shabab’s latest Westgate attack in Kenya should be understood in the light of the group’s deepening ties with Al-Qaeda and its global jihad, especially since 2009 when Al-Shabab formally pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda and welcomed the organisation’s core members into its leadership.
A tentative assessment of the Somali Harakat Al-Shabaab
Journal of Eastern African Studies, 2009
Al-Shabaab appears today as an offspring of al-Qa’îdah: a Jihadist organization that is articulating a project beyond Somalia to fight Western interests and set up Islamic States in the region. Its growth has pushed Somalia again into the headlines to the extent that Western states and their allies in the region have been developing security policies to contain and eradicate
Al Shabaab's Foreign Threat to Somalia
Orbis, 2011
This article focuses on the threat to Somalia by al Shabaab (The Youth), an extremist organization that controls most of southern and central Somalia. It learned its strategy and tactics from al Qaeda and the Taliban and relies heavily on a relatively small number of foreign fighters, most of whom are Somalis with foreign passports from the large Somali diaspora. The non-Somali contingent probably numbers only about 200 to 300, although it brings battlefield experience from Afghanistan and Iraq and provides al Shabaab with expertise in bomb making, remote-controlled explosions, suicide bombing and assassinations. Some of the foreigners occupy key positions in al Shabaab. The connection between al Shabaab and al Qaeda is growing stronger but has not yet reached the level of operational control by al Qaeda. Al Shabaab's draconian tactics, which are imported from outside and are anathema to most Somalis, and its foreign component may be its undoing.
Unveiling Al-Shabaab: A Comprehensive Analysis of Evolution and Influence
International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research, 2023
Somalia, in a state of chaos for nearly three decades, lacks centralized institutional power. Non-state actors, including the radical group Al-Shabaab, emerged after the collapse of the military regime. This article traces Al-Shabaab's evolution from a guerrilla force to an influential armed organization. Utilizing a qualitative research approach and document analysis, this article explores Al-Shabaab's genesis, organizational evolution, and structural components. Examining Al-Shabaab's organizational structure, the article delves into its Executive Council, Finance, Justice, Intelligence, and Media/Recruitment departments. Notably, the group's financial strength, justice system, and recruitment strategies are analyzed. The article also discusses Al-Shabaab's transformation over the past decade, emphasizing its Islamist-nationalist roots, radicalization, and recent tactical modifications. The study underscores Al-Shabaab's resilience, organizational prowess, and ability to control territories. Financial pressure, ideological warfare, and effective counterterrorism strategies are identified as crucial factors in addressing the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab in Somalia. A comprehensive approach, encompassing military, financial, and ideological dimensions, is deemed necessary for lasting peace in the region
CTC Sentinel. Volume 2, Issue 3, March 2009. Somalia's New Government and the Challenge of Al-Shabab
2009
This article outlines al-Qa`ida's early activity in Somalia, provides background and current information on al-Shabab including its recruitment of Americans and Europeans, and finally offers some policy suggestions on how best to stabilize Somalia. Early Al-Qa`ida Activity in Somalia Al-Qa`ida links to Somalia date back to 1992. At that time, the United States prepared to send troops to the country to open humanitarian corridors to feed starving Somalis in an operation known as the Unified Task Force. Declassified