The North-Eastern African country of Somalia is infamous for its ongoing civil war, social turbulence and widespread piracy. The country is also home to one of the most radical and hard-core Islamist groups in the region.
Islamist group al-Shabab, meaning “The Youth” in Arabic, has emerged as a wing of the now-defunct Union of Islamic Courts which controlled the southern part of Somalia in 2006.
Designated as terrorist organization by the US and UK, Al-Shabab maintains strong presence in rural areas in Somalia’s south and operates in the capital of Mogadishu and Kismayo port. The group imposed a strict version of Sharia law in areas under its control, as it advocates the Saudi-inspired Wahhabi version of Islam. Many practices of the organization are highly questionable even among radicals, says Dr. Petrus de Kock, Senior Researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs in Cape Town, South Africa.
“So, they are quite hard-liners in terms of interpreting the Holy Quran and also Islamic law, and that inspires the military endeavor to fight against the forces that would want to reestablish the state in Somalia because the state itself seems as a threat to the Islamic system, so I think that also forms a part of the struggle of Al-Shabab, at least – their ideology,” Petrus de Kock said.
In February 2012, Al-Shabab “pledged obedience” to al-Qaeda. Experts say that many Al-Qaeda fighters fled to Somalia after the organization was forced to retreat from Afghanistan and Pakistan following the killing of Osama Bin Laden by US special forces. Over the last years, al-Shabab has become more violent and fierce in its terror campaign. In September 2013, the group attacked the Westgate mall in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, leaving more than 60 people killed and more than 170 injured. It is increasingly difficult to address such security threats as al-Shabab uses guerilla tactics and surprise attacks, says John Omiti, Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis.
“I think the more concerted efforts we have, especially to assist Somali government, people would be back to their normal lives – this drought and fighting the warlords – and have an inclusive government in Somalia itself. I am not a politician, but I think until we have a stable government in Mogadishu, the threat from al-Shabab will remain and it depends on how government can put more resources particularly for peacekeeping,” John Omiti said.
There has been no major advance against al-Shabab by the Somali army and the African Union forces since late 2012. Intelligence reports say many al-Shabab militants are now leaving Somalia to join the ranks of the Islamic State organization that has recently seized parts of Iraq and Syria. With the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East, the threat of pan-Islamist movements spreading to other regions is now more real than ever.
