al-Shabaab (militant group)

The al-Shabaab war flag

al-Shabaab is an Islamist militant group based in Somalia. It seeks to eliminate Sufism from Somalia and has opposed various Sufi groups. It was recognised as a cell of al-Qaeda in 2012.^[1] The official name of the group is Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen (Arabic: حركة الشباب المجاهدين). It is now an affiliate of ISIL. Its name is Arabic for the Youth.

Some people who were in the Islamic Courts Union formed al-Shabaab in 2006 or 2007. Wahhabi ideas inflenced al-Shabaab.^[2] al-Shabaab wants to create an Islamic state at the Horn of Africa, and to take part in a golbal djihad.

al-Shabaab controls parts of southern Somalia. In the area it controls, there is a strict form of Sharia law.^[3] The group has claimed responsibility for various terrorist attacks including the Westgate shopping mall attack in 2013, Nairobi DusitD2 complex attack early 2019 in Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya and the Garissa University attack which killed 142 people in April 2015.

Al-Shabaab (militant Group) Media

Over 200 al-Shabaab fighters surrender to AMISOM, September 2012.
Somali and Kenyan troops celebrate al-Shabaab's retreat from Kismayo Airport, 2012.
Suspected al-Shabaab militants in Mogadishu during a joint operation between Somali forces and AMISOM, May 2014.
Al-Shabaab fighters in the city of Barawe in 2013
2016 03 05 El Baraf-10 (25427124772)
Residents of Tortoro celebrate with Lower Shabelle governor Abdulkadir Mohamed Sidi after the town's liberation from al-Shabaab, June 2015.
American-born Jehad Mostafa is a senior al-Shabaab commander.
Map showing the Horn of Africa (though excluding Somaliland).
The port city of Kismayo, held by al-Shabaab between 2009 and 2012, is a charcoal smuggling hub.