Author Archives
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War Igniting between al-Shabaab and al-I’tisam
Tension appears to be growing between al-Shabaab and rival Salafi group al-I’tisam–both offshoots of Somalia’s defunct Salafi-Jihadi group al-Itihad al-Islami (AIAI). On 7 March 2013, a grenade was thrown at the al-Rawda mosque in Bosaso during an al-I’tisam lecture ironically entitled “Infringements on Islam… Read More ›
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Lifting The Arms Embargo in Somalia: A Brief Outlook
Lifting the arms embargo is seen by some observers as a means to address the force capacity of Somali security forces and to reassert Somalia’s sovereignty. However, the internal and strategic factors limiting the effectiveness of Somali security forces and… Read More ›
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Villa Somalia Bombing Shows Danger of “Defectors”
On 29 January 2013, an al-Shabaab “defector” made it through a series of checkpoints in the heavily guarded Villa Somalia government compound and detonated himself near Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon’s home. The attack killed the bomber, two other people,… Read More ›
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How Al-Shabaab Exploited France’s Failed Rescue Op
On 12 January 2013, French special forces attempted to rescue kidnapped French spy “Denis Allex” in the middle of the night from a hideout in the al-Shabaab-controlled town of Buulo Mareer (about 30 km south of Marka.) However, the operation… Read More ›
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Mohamud’s U.S. Visit Foreshadows Federalism Debate
One issue that stuck out during President Mohamud’s largely successful first visit to the United States was the future of federalism in Somalia. After a warm reception in the Washington, D.C. area, Mohamud encountered significant protests in his subsequent visit to… Read More ›
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Details and Analysis of France’s Failed Rescue in Somalia
In the early hours of 12 January 2013, French special forces failed in an operation to rescue French intelligence agent Denis Allex from al-Shabaab in the town of Buulo Mareer. Buulo Mareer is firmly controlled by al-Shabaab–although Somalia National Army… Read More ›
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Jubaland Close to Becoming Somalia’s Next State
Brief Background on Jubaland Jubaland historically comprised of Lower and Middle Juba states. But military dictatator and ex-President Siad Barre split up the region in 1975, adding Gedo (created as an enclave for Barre’s Darod-Marehan clan members), Bay, and Bakool… Read More ›
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2013 in Somalia: A Look at Security
This is the first in a multi-part series about Somalia in 2013. In 2012, the Somali National Army and its partners in AMISOM and Ethiopia retook major al-Shabaab strongholds–including the lucrative port of Kismayo–and essentially confined al-Shabaab to the southern… Read More ›
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[PHOTOS] Anti-Farole Protests Hit Galkayo, Puntland
On 24 December 2012, hundreds of demonstrators filled the streets of northern Galkayo to protest the extension of Puntland President Abdirahman Farole’s term by one year and the recent arrest of elders gathering in Garowe on the charge of “attempting… Read More ›
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American Disowned by al-Shabaab Implies Group Responsible for Foreign Fighter Deaths
Al-Shabaab’s most prominent American fighter Abu Mansur al-Amriki, aka Omar Hammami, has been in a tenuous state in the group since releasing a March 2012 video stating his life was in danger due to differences with leaders. He also has issued several public criticisms of… Read More ›
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Attacks in Kenya Point to al-Shabaab and Its Sympathizers
Members of the Muslim Youth Centre (MYC)–a radical group that advocates for Jihad in response to marginalization against Kenyan Muslims–has claimed that the “mujahideen” were responsible for recent attacks in Nairobi’s neighborhood of Eastleigh. After three grenade attacks since 5 December… Read More ›
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[PHOTOS] Puntland Security Forces Battle al-Shabaab in Mountain Hideouts
On 5 December 2012, al-Shabaab (AS) forces in Puntland’s Galgala mountains carried out two attacks on Puntland Security Forces (PSF) in the area. Coming down from its mountain hideouts west of Galgala town, AS attacked a PSF outpost in Sugure, located… Read More ›
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AMISOM Still Working to Counter al-Shabaab Threat in Kismayo
AMISOM, the Somali National Army (SNA), and Ras Kamboni formally ousted al-Shabaab from its lucrative hub in Kismayo in early October 2012, but al-Shabaab has maintained a heavy informal influence in the port city. The group has carried out improvised… Read More ›
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