Al-Shabab is a jihadi insurgent group active in Somalia and in recent years, increasingly in East African countries. The group developed in the early 2000s with the Union of Islamic Courts in the capital, Mogadishu, and installed themselves as Al-Shabab terrorist group in Mogadishu and much of Somalia in 2006.
Al-Shabab comprised the young, radical armed wing of the UIC; their full name translates to ‘Movement of Jihadi Youth.’ The group however outlasted the UIC, which was ousted from the capital in December 2006 by Ethiopia, which feared it would threaten Ethiopia’s own security as well as regional and international interests. Al-Shabab went on to launch a successful guerrilla insurgency, conquered and administered large parts of Somalia.
Who supply weapon for Al-Shabab?
According to Somali officials told Somali Times Al-Shabab is foreign implant project in Somalia, so foreigners can loot Somalia’s resources when Somalis are busy fighting themselves while foreigners take their resources.
The group has also been under pressure from both the Somali government and the African Union Mission in Somalia Amisom, change to ATMIS which is an international force that’s been fighting Al-Shabab since 2007.
Read: Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh history of corruption 2012-2017
Al-Shabab has the ability to conduct attacks. It also established systems to tax extortion businesses and the public, both inside and outside of the territory it controlled, the group began to provide an alternative justice structure based on a strict interpretation of Sharia Islamic law though its understanding of Sharia.
Al-Shabab remains the most challenge to the Somali government, and its regional and international partners despite the shifts it has experienced over 15 years, some things have remained crucial to Al-Shabab’s mission in Somalia.
Read: Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh history of corruption 2012-2017
The new administration lead by Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud has called for the expansion of these resistance efforts. It has sent government troops to join local militia in an offensive against Al-Shabab time will tell if this new strategy will strategically alter the course in the fight against the terrorist group.
Al-Shabab is led by Ahmed Umar Abu Ubaidah, a militant in his 50s, U.S. State Department is currently offering a reward of up to $6 million for information leading to his capture.
Ahmed Umar Abu Ubaidah is the leader of Al-Shabab terrorist group following the death of the group’s former leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, in September 2014. Prior to replacing Godane, Ahmed Umar Abu Ubaidah served in several positions within the Al-Shabab terrorists, including as Godane’s assistant, the deputy governor of Lower Juba region.