HLSC 610 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY An Examination of Al-Shabaab _ASSIGNMENT_2024.pdf

Al-Shabaab Terrorist Organization 1

An Examination of Al-Shabaab

Tyler J. Gregory

HLSC 610 | Dr. Richards

Helms School of Government, Liberty University

June 21, 2023

Al-Shabaab Terrorist Organization 2

Abstract

The Al-Shabaab terrorist organization holds the title as one of the most lethal international

terrorist groups in the world. Their acts of violence across the Horn of Africa have given them

the hopes of extorting the Somalian government and ruling a pivotal coastal state that would

tactful maneuvers and operations, Al-Shabaab has tested the Somalian government on several

occasions, but in most recent years is more receptable to cooperating with government entities.

By technological advancements and the youth, the fighters inside Al-Shabaab who share interests

in global jihadism have utilized social media and incentives to create a want to explore the life of

Somalian government to shift more towards a nation such as the one the United States has built.

The terrorist organizations are fighting for more than ownership of territory, but for the

community of Islamist governance.

Keywords: Terrorism; Salafi-Jihadist; Al-Shabaab; Al-Qaeda; Somalia; Africa

Al-Shabaab Terrorist Organization 3

An Examination of Al-Shabaab

Remarked as one of the largest, most lethal Al-Qaeda affiliates by the US Africa

Command (AFRICOM), Al-Shabaab has established terror in the Western hemisphere and

Eastern Africa since the early 2000s (congress.gov, 2023, p.1). The terrorist organization is

establish an Islamic State in Somalia, Al-Shabaab should be taken at the highest level of

seriousness, recognizing the threat they impose on the United States and Western nations is as

legitimate as ever (Klobucista et al, 2023, p.1). This paper will go into great detail on the

overview of the Al-Shabaab terrorist organization and include topic areas such as ideologies and

Al-Shabaab, a terrorist organization that sprouted in Somalia in the mid 2000’s has had

the focus of overthrowing the Somalian government for quite some time (Klobucista et al, 2023,

p.1). The delay in their efforts is owed to the African Union (AU) as well as the United States

counterterrorism operations (p.1). The origins of Al-Shabaab date to the late 1990s, stemming

from a group named al-Ittihad al-Islami (AIAI), an extremist group motivated by the idea of

creating an Islamic State in place of Somalia, much like the mission of Al-Shabaab (p.2). The

Al-Shabaab obtained the majority of its leaders and skillful operators from the disbanded AIAI,

all of which were trained and influenced by the chief of the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization,

Osama bin Laden (p.2). The Al-Shabaab organization is best understood when the relationship

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between its supporters and the Al-Qaeda is explained in detail. According to the Director of

National Intelligence’s counterterrorism webpage, the Al-Shabaab has a primary focus of

defeating the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) but it is far from isolated to this idea. The

terrorist organization also has an objective of spreading jihadism throughout the West. However,

wish to defeat the FGS and do not wish to take part in jihadist movements (dni.gov, 2023). The

AIAI was operated solely on the idea that taking over control of the FGS would justify their

actions of violence across the region (Steinberg & Weber, 2015, p.13). Once Al-Qaeda began

influencing the AIAI and eventually Al-Shabaab, the idea of spreading jihadism became more

war that is still fought with advanced weaponry, but is even more so a war that utilizes social

media and connectivity with the rest of the world. According to an article published in 2022, the

youth that are fighters in the Al-Shabaab terrorist organization have massive influences on young

teens and adults around the globe. Their postings of luxurious lifestyles using organization funds

have influenced a new wave of individuals to join the jihadist movement, submitting loyalty to

Al-Shabaab (Grobbelaar, 2022, p.1). As most know, one of the objectives of any terrorist

organization is to instill fear in the population through acts of violence or extremism. Al-Shabaab

utilizes video streaming and social media to show violent acts that assist in the gaining of

notoriety and fame amongst social media platforms (Grobbelaar, 2022, p.3). As technology

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advances are made and broadband connectivity is more accessible by organizations such as Al-

Shabaab, it is likely that the evolution path of Al-Shabaab can at some point become solely

focused on cyberterrorism and minimize its use of physical violence across the globe (Weimann,

2004, p.8).

Salafi-Jihadist Influence

The Al-Shabaab terrorist organization is primarily made up of Salafi-Jihadists that want

to spread the ideologies of jihad and extremism amongst the globe. The jihad movement is not

entirely accepted by all, but those who do share the same ideology of the Salafi-Jihadists would

to be under the AIAI to what it is now, as one of the most lethal terrorist organizations in the

world.

Clan Affiliation

The individuals who are affiliated with Al-Shabaab hold many affiliations, making the

terrorist organization unlike most. These extremists affiliate themselves with Sunni-Muslim

identity, clannism, jihad, and Somali (Bacon, 2022, p.17). While most terrorist organizations

such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS hold loyalty and solitude to the organization, Al-Shabaab leaders

promote the diverse affiliation with clans and movements as they feel it strengthens the jihad

movement and creates a more powerful appearance in the Somalian region (p.19).

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Territorial Ideologies and Islamist Governance

Al-Shabaab as the reader now knows, has a primary objective of securing Somalia and

turning it into an Islamic State. The ideologies that the organization holds are interesting as it

shows that Al-Shabaab leaders are more entertained by government cooperation than most elite

have entertained the ideology of the African Union (AU) and the Islamic Federal Government

(IFG) cooperating with the organization to spread Islamist governance and begin the

demobilization of Al-Shabaab (2022). Although this might take decades to happen, it seems as if

the leadership within the organization still holds a priority on Islamist governance over the

Union and the United States support (Karr, 2022, p.1). The Al-Shabaab would go on to launch

offensive missions in Kenya and across to Uganda in the 2010s, letting the world know that

while they are prioritizing the extortion of the Somalian region, they have the offensive

capabilities to launch attacks on any surrounding nations, regardless of the size and power

(Buluma, 2014, p. 4). It would be correct to state that the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab has

majority control and offensive range over the Horn of Africa and its surrounding nations. This

geographic makeup awards the organization as one of the most versatile international terrorist

groups present today, further spreading their influence amongst the globe, therefore infinitely

increasing their range and capabilities as far as offensive measures go.

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Much like any other terrorist organization, the Al-Shabaab organization utilizes the same

three primary weapons: IED (improvised explosive device), VBIED (vehicular borne improvised

explosive device), and small arms attacks. The terrorist group primarily targets opposing military

The National Counterterrorism Center mentions that while spreading jihadism amongst the globe

is a priority to many members of Al-Shabaab, they have only ever committed offensive attacks

within the Horn of Africa (nctc.gov, 2021). Their tactics include suppressing those who are

outspoken about political rights and agendas, assassinations of officials and individuals with

The Use of Force Multipliers

A common tactic of Al-Shabaab as well as other terrorist organizations is the use of force

multipliers to match the powers of a much larger opposition. For example, fighters for Al-

Shabaab will utilize WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) to influence and/or extort targets

from carrying out operations or occupying territory (Hoffman, 2018, p.436). The Al-Shabaab

terrorist organization is relatively small when compared to the masses of the state’s that make up

the Horn of Africa. However, through the use of force multipliers, the organizations is able to

multiply their output of force and influence without needed to add any additional input variables.

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As stated before, Al-Shabaab is a descendant of the former, AIAI and various terrorist

cells including extremists throughout the Northeastern coast of Africa. Their structures are rather

simplistic and can be linked to a traditional hierarchy that one might see in a state’s government.

Al-Shabaab has their clan leaders, specialists that are set to specific units such as explosives,

loosely enforced before 2012 when the organization formally declared allegiance to the Al-

Qaeda terrorist organization (Harrington & Thompson, 2021, p.1). This move enabled the

organization to have more support from an already remarkable terrorist organization. Harrignton

and Thompson also state in their report, “In addition to Al-Shabaab's core leadership structure,

advancements, could potentially own the Horn of Africa.

Financial Struggles

Al-Shabaab for many years has financed the operations that themselves as well as Al-

Qaeda conducts (treasury.gov, 2022). The Treasury also reports that Al-Shabaab has an average

annual income of $100 million USD, that is used to support operations, break ground on new

advancements, and coerce officials into committing actions in the best interest of the

organization. The largest struggle for Al-Shabaab is the risk that is included with the actions that

are required to earn this type of funding. The majority of the funds that are obtained are done so

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through physical violence and the ousting of their Somalian business owners (treasury.gov,

2022).

1 Corinthians 10:13 states, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to

temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

(openbible.info, 2016).

This verse represents those who have temptations to do evil and take action upon those

temptations. The sign is that their relationship with Christ is weak, their faith in him to provide