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04 October 2011

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Somalia’s al-Shabaab

Terrorist Organization

 

The U.S. has charged 14 people with

“with terrorism violations for providing money,

personnel, and services” to an al-Qaeda-linked group

 

According to Agence France-Presse (August 2010) “Two of those charged were arrested earlier on Thursday in Minnesota, officials said, including one man and one woman accused of raising money for the al-Shabaab on the pretence of collecting funds ‘for the poor and needy.’ ”

 

At least ten of those charged, many naturalized U.S. citizens, are outside America, probably in Somalia. This problem of “home-grown” terrorists seems to be growing as noted by White House national security adviser John Brennan in a speech on May 26, 2010: “We have seen an increasing number of individuals here in the United States become captivated by extremist ideologies or causes.”

 

Failed State a Haven for Terrorism

The Fund for Peace lists Somalia as the most unstable nation in the world on its 2010 Failed States Index. It is a country without a functioning central governme nt in which, writes Stephanie Hanson of the Council on Foreign Relations (July 28, 2010), the Islamic organization al-Shabaab (above) “controls much of southern Somalia, excluding the capital, Mogadishu.”

 

Since 2006, the group has been fighting against what passes for a transitional Somali government that has Ethiopian support. As Hanson reports, it was “originally the militant wing of the Islamic Courts Union, the group that controlled Somalia prior to the country’s invasion by Ethiopian forces.”

 

The absence of a central government in the country since 1991 has made it easy for the terrorist organization to expand its area of control. It is believed to be able to field several thousand fighters.

 

Aim is to set up an Islamic State

Al-Shabaab’s goal is to set up an Islamic state governed by strict Sharia law. A July 2010 BBC News report says “In areas under al-Shabaab control, the group has carried out punishments such as stoning women accused of adultery to death and amputating the hands of thieves.”

 

And, Sudarsan Raghavan, writing in The Washington Post (July 2010), says the militants have “banned playing soccer in many areas it controls. The al-Qaeda-linked militia, along with Hezb-i-Islam, a rival extremist group, prohibited broadcasts of the World Cup, describing the sport as ‘a satanic act’ that corrupts Muslims.”

 

C.T. Snow

Somalia’s capital has been bombarded almost into rubble after years of fighting.

 

Jon Lee Anderson, writing in The New Yorker (December 2009) says the group has “declared war on the UN and on Western non-governmental organizations.” It has killed almost 50 relief workers.

 

One of these was 25-year-old Mansuur Mohammed, a World Food Program worker. Compass Direct News reported (October 2008) that he “was beheaded last month specifically for converting from Islam to Christianity, among other charges…before horrified onlookers of Manyafulka village, 10 kilometres (six miles) from Baidoa.”

 

Al-Shabaab Exports Terror

The group has sent fighters across the border into Kenya where at least two million Somali refugees are living in camps. And, in July 2010, BBC News reported “at least 70 people were killed when al-Shabaab launched two attacks in the Ugandan capital,” Kampala.

 

The suicide attacks were launched against people watching the closing stages of the World Cup Final in bars.

“Al-Shabaab had previously warned that Uganda and Burundi would pay for the role of their forces in Somalia,” wrote the BBC’s Joshua Mmali (July 12, 2010) “where their troops make up the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (Amisom).”

 

The African Union has since pledged to add 2,000 more troops to its 6,000-strong peacekeeping force in Somalia.

 

Image credit

Plamastik

 

Sources

“14 Charged with Aiding Somali Group.” Rod Lever, Agence France-Presse, August 6, 2010.

“Remarks by Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John Brennan at CSIS.” White House, May 26, 2010.

“Al-Shabaab.” Stephanie Hanson, Council on Foreign Relations, August 10, 2011.

“Q&A: Who Are Somalia’s al-Shabab.” BBC News, July 12, 2010.

“Under Threat of Violence, Somalis Play Soccer - or Watch - at their Peril.” Sudarsan RaghavanSunday, Washington Post, July 11, 2010.

“The Most Failed State.” Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, December 14, 2009.

“Christian Aid Worker Beheaded for Converting from Islam.” Compass Direct News, October 27, 2008.

“Ugandan Peacekeepers Killed in Somalia Clashes.” BBC News, July 23, 2010.

“Uganda’s World Cup Joy Shattered by Blast.” Joshua Mmali, BBC News, July 12, 2010.

 

© Canada and the World, October 2011

All rights reserved

 

THEY’RE BACK

 

In August 2011, al-Shabaab withdrew its fighters from Mogadishu to enormous sighs of relief.

 

But, on October 4, 2011 the group claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in the beleaguered capital

BBC News reported “At least 70 people have been killed by a huge suicide blast near a government compound in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, say officials.

 

“Eyewitnesses said a truck carrying explosives was driven into a gate near a government ministry and detonated.

 

FAMINE

 

On top of all the miseries visited upon the people of Somalia they now face a famine.

 

Brought on by a drought, the food shortage threatens hundred of thousands of people.

 

According to a CBC News report, the disaster has “killed more than 29,000 children under the age of five, according to U.S. estimates.”

 

The CBC goes on to add that the UN believes 640,000 more children are malnourished.

CBC Radio Documentary

The Mayor of Mogadishu