Topic: Al-Shabaab

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Briefing
Top 3 reasons why Al Qaeda is more dangerous than ever

On the one-year anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death, defense analysts say that there are plenty of reasons to think that a resurgence of the perniciously resourceful Al Qaeda is not out of the question.
Somalia: A timeline of change in a troubled country

Here is a timeline of changes, intervention, and mediation in 5 bite-sized bits.
What is Somalia's Al Shabab?

The international community has more questions than answers about the Somali militant group Al Shabab, the target of Kenya's military incursion into Somalia. But they know how it affords food for its troops – and it's not from piracy.
Four reasons help is slow to reach Somalia’s famine victims

As more information about East Africa’s famine reaches Western audiences, the situation looks increasingly grim – but aid doesn’t seem to be keeping pace with the publicity. What challenges do humanitarian organizations face?
In Pictures: Eid al-Fitr around the world

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International groups accelerate effort to relieve East Africa's famine

The first UN plane in two years is scheduled to go into the Somali capital's airport Wednesday carrying food aid. Some 3.7 million people in Somalia alone need help.
Famine in the Horn of Africa: why the world is slow to respond

Millions of lives are at stake in the drought and famine in East Africa, but aid is hampered by security concerns in Somalia and donors surprised by the severity of the crisis.
Antiterror laws could impede US aid for Somalia famine victims

Al Shabab, an Islamist group with links to Al Qaeda, controls famine-stricken regions in Somalia. The US is looking for ways to help starving Somalis while not breaking antiterror laws.
The forgotten victims of the East Africa famine

As aid organizations and governments ship food and supplies to the relief camps to deal with the worst famine in decades, uncounted refugees are still seeking help far from the camps.
Africa Monitor
US is right to give aid to Somalia, despite risk of helping Al Shabab

Guest blogger Alex Thurston writes that the US made the right call by giving aid to Somalia because it is the moral thing to do and because it could have unexpectedly positive political results.
Why the UN declared a famine in Somalia (VIDEO)

The UN has officially declared a famine in parts of Somalia, the first time in 27 years it has done so in Africa. A severe drought has affected much of Africa's northeast.
Africa Monitor
UN declares famine in Somalia: How to help

The UN officially declared a famine in some parts of southern Somalia today. The UN alone says it needs $300 million in the next two months to provide adequate aid. Here's how you can help.
Africa Monitor
US drone strikes in Somalia likely to rally local support for militants

Even Somalis who are not members of the local militant group Al Shabab may see US drone strikes on the group as an unwelcome foreign intervention.
US covert attacks in Yemen: A better template for the war on terror?

The new campaign follows US concerns about a fortified Al Qaeda in conflict-torn Yemen. It’s very likely a harbinger of things to come, some national security experts say.
Terrorism & Security
Somalia kills Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, widening Al Qaeda power vacuum

Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, wanted by the FBI for planning the 1998 embassy bombings in Africa, is the third senior Al Qaeda leader to be killed in little over a month.
Africa Monitor
Withdrawals, lack of pay for African Union's Somalia forces could thwart progress

The African Union Mission in Somalia has been gaining ground against Al Shabab, but threats of countries withdrawing soldiers and failure to pay others could set back that progress.
Africa Monitor
African Union lays siege to Al Shabab-controlled market in Somalia's capital

African Union troops aim to deny the militant Islamist group Al Shabab funds it receives from taxing shopkeepers and traders. An apparent surge of AU peacekeepers is challenging Al Shabab's tacit control of Somalia.
Africans debate impact of Osama bin Laden killing

Kenya greeted Osama bin Laden's death as "justice." Other countries worry that America's battle against terrorism masks an attempt to expand military influence in Africa.
Africa Monitor
New semiautonomous region in Somalia vows to fight Al Shabab

The creation of Jubaland/Azania was driven by the need to fight the Al Qaeda-linked militant group, Al Shabab, but it's unclear whether the new region will be able to do that effectively.
American jihadi gets 25 years for 'South Park' and Facebook death threats

Zachary Chesser of Virginia, who converted to a militant form of Islam, had pleaded guilty to three charges, including threatening the lives of 'South Park' writers and participants in 'Everybody Draw Mohammed Day.'
Muslim-American terrorism study: Not many incidents, but it only takes one

Since 9/11, the number of Muslim-American terrorism suspects and perpetrators has averaged about 16 a year. Last year was slightly higher, but way down from 2009.
Africa Monitor
Ivory Coast, Sudan referendum: Africa stories to look out for in 2011

The year 2011 will include some big developments in Africa to look out for – Sudan's referendum and the continuing strife in Ivory Coast, among others.
Terrorism & Security
Danish intelligence foils terror plot against newspaper

The Danish intelligence agency said Wednesday that five men were arrested in connection to a plot against a Danish newspaper only weeks after a terror attack was executed – unsuccessfully – in Sweden.
Africa Monitor
This Week in the Great Lakes: Congo and UN tango over child soldiers while US preaches engagement

A holiday season roundup of this week's news from Africa's Great Lakes region: women march in the Congo for more legal action against rapists, Rwandan journalists petition for changes to defamation laws, and Al Shabab remains a threat in Burundi.
Africa Monitor
Is Al Shabab gaining or losing ground in Somalia?

Some say that African Union troops are succeeding at pushing back Somalia's rebel movement, Al Shabab, but news reports make it unclear whether that's really the case.
Terrorism & Security
Somali pirates release British couple held for more than a year

Paul and Rachel Chandler were kidnapped as they slept on their yacht 800 miles off the East African coast more than a year ago. Their 388-day ordeal makes the British couple the longest-held former captives of Somali pirates.
Zachary Adam Chesser, linked to 'South Park' threats, pleads guilty

Zachary Adam Chesser pleaded guilty to threatening the creators of 'South Park' for lampooning the Prophet Mohammed. He also admitted to attempting to support Somali terrorists.
Africa Monitor
Rwanda is no US when it comes to press freedom – but it's also no Somalia

Rwanda got a bit of a raw deal to be ranked near the bottom of Reporters Without Borders' annual press freedom list this year, says guest blogger Jina Moore.
Terrorism & Security
British charity workers kidnapped in one of Somalia's 'safer parts'

Two aid workers for British charity Save the Children were kidnapped Thursday night in Somalia, where kidnapping has become an industry and most aid groups have fled.
In Pictures: Eid al-Fitr around the world