Al-Shabaab terror activities: a threat to regional & international security

This article provides an overview of the contribution made by the United Nations and African Union (AU) in countering Al-Shabaab terror activities in Somalia and neighboring countries. The author argues that the role of IGAD and AMISOM under African Union supervision has been paramount in addressing the Somali insurgency. Insecurity in the Horn of Africa poses a threat to regional and global security. Al-Shabaab's evolution as a transnational terrorist group with deepening ties to Al-Qaeda and its global jihadist movement is analyzed, and the refugee crisis as a consequence is revealed.

The concept of counter-terrorism and how it has been applied is examined. Contributions made by developed countries to boost the African Union efforts through counter-terrorism training aimed at capacity building and funding of peacekeepers are mentioned as factors that have strengthened regional coordination in countering Al-Shabaab terror activities.

Despite African Union efforts in fostering regional and international coordination as a counter-terrorism approach, Al-Shabaab, though weaker, remains a threat to regional and international security. As a result, the author concludes that more players such as Russia, whose commitment to the fight against terrorism can be witnessed in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region and Syria, would be paramount in boosting regional counter-terrorism efforts.

Keywords

Al-Shabaab, Somalia, African Union, AMISOM, United Nations, counter-terrorism

Acknowledgment

The research project is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, grant № 19-18-00155 "Islamist extremism in the context of international security: Threats for Russia and opportunities for counteraction".

Received

15.11.2020

Publication date

28.04.2021

Number of characters

20464

Cite

GOST	Mugabi B. Al-Shabaab terror activities: a threat to regional & international security // Asia and Africa Today – 2021. – Issue 4 C. 66-71 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750014658-5-1 (circulation date: 25.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750014658-5
MLA	Mugabi, Brian "Al-Shabaab terror activities: a threat to regional & international security." Asia and Africa Today 4 (2021):66-71. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750014658-5
APA	Mugabi B. (2021). Al-Shabaab terror activities: a threat to regional & international security. Asia and Africa Today (4), pp.66-71 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750014658-5

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