Recently, Al-Shabaab has claimed another suicide bombing in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. According to police reports, the bombing killed 5 people and at least 6 are reported injured. Al-Shabaab is the largest terrorist organization within the Horn of Africa and for decades has caused mass chaos.
Al-Shabaab has a long history in the horn. The group went from a more moderate Islamic political group, with ties to al-Ittihad al-Islami an extremist group from the 90’s and early 2000s. In 2006, when Ethiopia invaded to re-establish the recognized government, Al-Shabaab became radicalized and attacks on civilians and officials started to happen rapidly.
The entire region has been highly unstable for decades. Ethnic cleansing and violence in Eritrea have continued for years. Darfur and South Sudan have also been accused of war crimes. Al-Shabaab currently has an estimated 7000-12000 members in the region and stabilizing the region has been difficult.
The African Union and the United Nations conduct a peacekeeping operation within the region called AMISOM, which boasts 20,000 troops. The United States and the West have provided military logistics and weaponry to help defend the Somali capital. The United States also conducts anti-terrorist missions with allies within the region. This has not stopped Al-Shabaab. The most recent attack shows that they are still powerful in the region and control large amounts of territory.
The international community has done a great deal in pushing back Al-Shabaab. However the threats of multiple extremist groups collaborating to gain more control within the region. The international community must continue to engage in peacekeeping missions, as well as the West’s continued anti-terrorism operations. But the next step is getting control of the hearts and minds. The international community needs to start investing time and money into infrastructure, educational programs, and business so that Somalia can grow and show off to the rest of the country its power and progress. For citizens to see an alternative to poverty and violence, it will help dwindle the number of recruits to Al-Shabaab.
The horn is still one of the most dangerous places on this earth. If the international community does not continue to intervene, the region may be unstable forever. With more political action, there may be a pathway to peace.
Author: Joshua Cheatham