Key Highlights
- Al-Muhajiroun – Emigrants of East Africa, a pro-al-Qaeda group, distributed the first issue of a Swahili jihadi magazine for women.
- The publication features a photo and caption description of “White Widow” Samantha Lewthwaite on the front cover.
- Al-Muhajiroun terrorist group is an affiliate of Somali Islamist group Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen Movement.
- The outfit has threatened East Africa nations especially Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
- Intelligence show the militant group has active cells along the Kenyan coast and mainland Tanzania.
Analysis
Early May 2015, credible OSINT summaries confirmed that Al-Muhajiroun (Emigrants of East Africa) issued a statement through their online resource threatening the United Nations as well as governments of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
The outfit is deeply embedded in social media networks that provide the group with a perfect platform to pass on the message which is mostly propaganda.
The militant group work closely with other offshoots of the Somali Islamist group Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen including Al-Hijra.
Al-Muhajiroun Swahili magazine is a publication that has been done by the outfit in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania with a sole purpose of radicalization.
The objectives of Al Shabaab using media platforms is to unleash propaganda, inflict fear and mostly implore youths to join the course of jihad. Media to the militants has offered an opportune for recruitment and radicalization of youthful fighters.
Summary
The publication by the Al-Muhajiroun with a photo of the ‘white widow’ on the cover is strategically to implore more women to join jihad. They have used a caption with propaganda message, praising her and indicating that she was fulfilling Allah’s work in Somalia.
This is a totally un-Islamic as it is against what the religion ideologies stands for – peace.
While the militant outfits continue using online media and publications to drive their agenda, security authorities are on top of things, watching carefully their trends, intentions; ready to employ on distinct counter strategies.
