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Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Africa pp 39–66Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Al Shabaab in Somalia: Between Clan and Faith

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Part of the New Security Challenges Series book series (NSECH)

Abstract

The dominant narrative regarding the emergence of Islamist militants in the form of Harakat al-Shabaab al Mujahideen2 (Movement of the Striving Youth),3 commonly referred to as Al Shabaab (The Youth) in Somalia, is beautiful in its simplicity. In the absence of central government authority, the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) took control over much of south and central Somalia. Fears of the growing radical Islamist agenda of the UIC prompted the Ethiopian armed forces to invade the country in December 2006 with 14,000 troops.4 The rule of the UIC abruptly ended and much of its older leadership fled Somalia.5

Keywords

  • Islamist Movement
  • Drone Strike
  • Asymmetric Warfare
  • Nationalist Project
  • Islamist Formation

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Me and my clan against the world;

Me and my family against my clan;

Me and my brother against my family;

Me against my brother.

— Popular Somali Proverb1

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Notes

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  1. University of the Free State, Republic of South Africa

    Hussein Solomon

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Solomon, H. (2015). Al Shabaab in Somalia: Between Clan and Faith. In: Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Africa. New Security Challenges Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137489890_3

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