Al-Shabaab is a Somalian-based, radical terrorist cell with ties to al-Qaeda in the Middle East and possibly Boko Haram in Nigeria. They believe in violent Islamic militancy and boast a troop strength of between 7,000 to 9,000 militants.
In 2006, Al-Shabaab gained control over Somalia’s capital city Mogadishu, raising the fear in Ethiopia that the group’s violence would spill over into their country. So, in December 2006, the Ethiopian military launched an offensive into Mogadishu and successfully drove Al-Shabaab out of the city. Ethiopia’s action inflamed the group, and Al-Shabaab attacked Ethiopia’s forces in central and southern Somalia, taking control of those areas. Al-Shabaab’s goal was to topple the Somalian government and replace it with Islamic rule and Sharia law.
One of Shabaab’s most infamous attacks took place in 2013 in Nairobi Kenya’s most upscale mall, which was owned at the time by Israelis. A group of Al-Shabaab terrorists stormed the mall, shooting patrons on a Saturday afternoon. At times, they asked their victims if they were Muslim. If the response was no, they were shot. In all, 67 innocent people died and 175 were wounded.
Strangely, Al-Shabaab’s radical brand of Islamic extremism has proven appealing to certain Americans. Al-Shabaab recently used a spokesman for one of their propaganda videos who sounded suspiciously American. At the end of his rhetoric, to accentuate his point, he used a clip of Donald Trump. [read more]
al-Shabaab news:
- Aug. 22, 2016: Somalia Suicide Bombings Killing 20 Claimed by al Shabaab
- July 1, 2016: Al Shabaab claims responsibility for deadly attack on Somalia hotel
- Feb. 26, 2016: Somali president: Al Shabaab attack killed nearly 200 Kenyan soldiers
- Feb. 14, 2016: Al Shabaab claims responsibility for plane explosion killing bomber
- May 15, 2015: Al-Shabaab Fighters Capture 2 Towns in Somalia
- Dec. 2, 2014: Kenya Quarry Attack by Somalia's al-Shabaab Kills 36
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