Al-Shabaab cells in East Africa. Succeful deterrance & disinformation

 
PIIS032150750000689-9-1
DOI10.31857/S032150750000689-9
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Occupation: PhD (History), Senior Research Fellow
Affiliation: Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences
Address: Moscow, Spiridonovka street, 30/1
Journal nameAsia and Africa Today
EditionIssue 9
Pages33-39
Abstract

A paper finishes the assessment of counterterrorist measures in East Africa [cf. 2; 3]. So scarce in recent scientific works and mass media reports, the examples of successful disruption of terrorist attacks by security agencies and military forces are evaluated. The dynamics and drivers of recruiting in the ranks of Al-Shabaab in East Africa and the changing pattern of its terrorist operations in the region are described in detail. The profiles of the most dangerous extremists that were involved in preparing terrorist acts are given. The accent is put on the situation in Kenya because it endured the most of terrorist attacks in East Africa and sustained the hardest assault of Al-Shabaab’s propaganda warfare. The research is based on the multilevel cross-examination and verification of different kind of sources: the extended database of media and human rights outlets publications, intelligence and expert reports, and some scientific works of the last years.

There is a situation when Al-Shabaab and its proxy in East Africa constantly produce disinformation about killing of some sheiks and Muslims that they manage to sell to the mass media and human rights organizations. As a result the actions of law enforcement agencies are pictured with notoriously bad connotations. All this has had negative and devastating impact on the public opinion. The consequences of this situation and its main adepts are displayed. Al-Shabab has recently been deprived of people and financial resources suffering strong setbacks from the troops of African Union and Somali Federal Government. This makes difficult coordination among its different wings and groups which in turn leads to their increasing autonomy as well as the moral degradation of some fighters and new bloody purges.

KeywordsKenya, Tanzania, Al-Shabaab, terrorist cells, foreign fighters
Received30.09.2018
Publication date15.10.2018
Number of characters22490
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