- A clan-based terrorist group
- Militant wing of the Somali Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC)
- SCIC – southern Somalia based federation of clan-based Islamic courts
- SCIC – an alliance of Sharia courts
- By 2006, captured almost whole of southern Somalia
- 2007 – defeated by Ethiopian forces
- African Union led military op to cleanse the group
- But still a violent force in central and southern Somalia
- Deadly attacks by the terror group in East Africa
- Neighboring countries on target, Kenya, Djibouti saw big attacks by it
- A clan-based terrorist group – facing internal politics and leadership issues
- Linked with AO, merged in 2012
- Final goal – an Islamic state driven by it in Somalia
AL-SHABAAB ORIGIN
- Al-Ittihad Al-Islami (AIAI, OR “Unity of Islam”)
- Al-Shabaab’s breeding ground – active in 1990s
- Somali extremists – educated and radicalized in the Middle East
- Osama bin Laden – funding and arming them
- 2000s – rift in AIAI – soft old guard Vs young terror mercenaries
- Old guard – a political front
- Mercenaries – a Greater Somalia with Islamic Rule
- They joined SCIC – became its youth militia or militant wing
- SCIC won Somalian capital Mogadishu in June 2006
- Ethiopia, invaded Somalia in Dec 2006
- SCIC was defeated in early months of 2007
- Next some years saw – Al-Shabaab – emerging as a dreaded terror group
AL-SHABAAB – SOCIAL IMPACT
- Extreme sharia interpretation
- Restrictions on entertainment
- No movies, no TV, no music
- On watching international matches
- Arrest and punishment
- Cannot shave your beards
- Adulterers – stoning/amputations
- Lashing in public areas