SUMMARY
Al-Shabaab (Harakat Al-Shabaab, Harakat al-Shabaab Mujahideen, “Movement of Warrior Youths”, “The Youths”, “Mujahideen Youth Movement”) was previously associated with the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC).
There are opposing views on when Al-Shabaab was actually formed. One version is that the group was created by former members of Al Ittihad Al-Islami (AIAI) as early as 1998, perhaps under the guidance of Islamist leader Hassan Dahir Aweys. Others contend it was formed in 2006 by Aweys’ protégé Aden Hashi Farah Ayrow as the armed wing, or a special elite unit, within the UIC. Following the military defeat of UIC in early 2007 and the subsequent disarray in UIC ranks, Al-Shabaab increasingly emerged as an independent group. In September 2007, Al-Shabaab rejected the formation of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS), of which the UIC was a member, distancing itself from the movement. In 2008, Al-Shabaab had grown to prominence becoming the main insurgent actor fighting government troops and Ethiopian forces deployed to Somalia.
Since then, much of the territory in the south and central Somalia has fallen to Al-Shabaab. In the areas it has gained through battles, or threats of battles, Al-Shabaab imposed a strict version of Sharia law. The group initially enjoyed popularity for re-establishing order after years of warlordism and clan-related strife. However, the restrictions on people’s freedoms in the areas under Al-Shabaab control, as well as harsh and archaic forms of punishment for crimes, such as stoning, has led to a loss of public support.
Al-Shabaab has the most far-reaching aims of any of the Islamist opposition groups, seeking to establish a global Islamic caliphate. Ideologically, the group has followed a trajectory of becoming increasingly more extreme, and its command structure has become increasingly centralized. The group has links with the global Al-Qaida network, and hundreds of foreign fighters, “jihadis” can be found in Al-Shabaab’s ranks. These fighters have often been recruited among Somali diaspora, but also among nationals from other parts of the Muslim world. In addition, Al-Shabaab has received military, financial, and logistical support from the neighbor, and Ethiopian arch-enemy, Eritrea.
During 2013, and also during 2012 al-Shabaab’s power declined, partly because of the increased pressure from the AU forces ‘African Union Mission In Somalia’ (AMISOM) but also due to internal struggles within al-Shabaab.
The increasing opposition forced al-Shabaab to change its tactics, moving from a desire to conquer and hold territory to more guerilla-styled warfare. In 2013 al-Shabaab has been pushed from many of its previous strongholds and the Somali army has pledged to continue its offensive against the group, rooting them out of previous safe-havens. The shift in tactics has led to an increase in attacks on civilians. There has been severe turbulence within al-Shabaab; the internal power struggles have further weakened the group. The internal struggles in combination with the increased offensive by the Somali government have forced al-Shabaab to transform, the increased targeting of civilians is a result of this transformation. Also, many of the powerful clans, who previously supported al-Shabaab, have withdrawn their support as the attacks on civilians have increased. These developments have created a situation that has proven to be more dangerous for civilians, especially in the larger cities, Mogadishu in particular.
Al-Shabaab has been involved in the intrastate, non-state and one-sided categories of UCDP organised violence.
