Sadly, peaceful western nations face many years of dealing with political Islam in Somalia. In a world with so many dangers such as Iran, N. Korea, Pakistan, Afghanistan as well as the ongoing concern of Israel’s survival, Somalia is often overlooked on the world’s stage, yet could very well be the next Afghanistan if there’s ever another 9-11 on US Soil.
There’s a great piece over at the Middle East Forum today that outlines in detail the history and ideology of the Al-Shabaab in Somalia as well as it’s growing alliance with Al Qaeda.
Aden Hashi Ayro, an Al-Shabaab leader, was believed to have a strong relationship with Al-Qaeda. After his death by a U.S. airstrike, Al-Shabaab posted a biography of him, claiming "he fought under the supervision of Al-Qaeda, and with its logistical support and expertise."
Since emerging from an era of colonialism under Italy and Britain, Somalia has passed through military dictatorship, famine, and civil war to regional fragmentation. In the modern period, Americans best remember the loss of U.S. military personnel that followed attempts to secure order in the country as part of a United Nations operation. More recently, the hijacking of ships by pirates operating from the Somali coast has attracted considerable attention globally.
But the biggest threat emanating from Somalia comes from a different source: An ongoing lack of internal order has left the country vulnerable to the rise of hard-line Islamist groups, of which the latest is Al-Shabaab (the youth), which rose from obscurity to international prominence in less than two years. Al-Shabaab’s ideological commitment to global jihadism, its connections to Al-Qaeda, its military capabilities, and its ability to capture and control territory suggest that it will continue to pose a strategic challenge to both the U.S. and Somalia’s neighbors.
hattip: Rusty
Related posts:
- Yet another Minnesota muslim joins the jihad in Somalia
- Somalia quickly falling under al Qaeda’s control
- Another Somali-American killed waging jihad in Somalia
- Somalia: Al-Qaeda connected jihadis tell women to cover up or go to jail
- Somali pirates “smuggling” Al Qaeda terrorists into Somalia
- Key al Qaeda figure killed in U.S. raid in Somalia
- Somalia: Armed gunmen kidnap French security advisors
- Somalia: French hostage allegedly killed three jihadis who held him prisoner
- Somali pirates hi-jack Saudi oiltanker
- Kenya: Jihadis kill 69 year old Christian for possession of Bibles
