In a latest coverage dubbed inside Al-Shabaab done by Jamal Osman, the Africa Correspondent for 4 News media, the journalist was able to cover a story on the Al-Qaeda associated force that for more than fifteen years has been fighting a bloody insurgency in Somalia.
The 4 News media correspondent Jamal Osman obtained rare access to film in Al-Shabaab territory and travelled to their de facto capital Jilib, Middle Juba region of southern Somalia.
The journalist was able to interview, Al-Shabaab Deputy leader, Mahad Karate, who has a huge bounty reward offer from the government of the United States, (US) Department of Justice. Mahad Karate categorically disclosed that the militant group will continue to target Somali government and its troops besides the ally troops (US, ATMIS troops) supporting the Somali National army.
Karate noted that, Al-Shabaab which has positioned itself as the alternative government is not ready to negotiate with the Federal Government of Somalia, the way Taliban of Afghanistan did, saying that Federal Government is ‘illegitimate’.
According to the journalist, Al-Shabaab has positioned itself as the alternative government in the areas under its control. In its defacto headquarter, Jilib, the Islamist militant group has established several learning institutions teaching computer studies, English and Islamic. The group in an attempt to woo locals has set centers where they continue to offer humanitarian services such as food supplies to the poor.
Upon interviewing a number of locals in Jilib, they seemed to live in fear of going against Al-Shabaab’s wishes. The group that thrives through intimidation has also set their courts where reportedly locals are charged if they go against Al-Shabaab strict Sharia rule on which they fight and seek to govern Somalia if they oust the Federal government.
The coverage also showcased recently graduated Al-Shabaab troops sharing a meal with Al-Shabaab Deputy leader, Mahad Karate at undisclosed location. The leader is heard giving them lectures and instruction to continue with the cause of striking the so called ‘unbelievers. Notably the recently graduated fighters are posed to be deployed to carry out attacks against security forces and government assets in Somalia and beyond.
Al-Shabaab was formed in 2002 and by 2008 they controlled much of southern Somalia. They soon pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda and began conducting attacks at home and abroad. The militant group notably conducted deadly attack in Westgate shopping mall attack in Kenya’s capital Nairobi in 2012 and again in April 2015, Al-Shabaab militants killed 148 majorly innocent students at Garissa University College.
In Somalia, the Islamist militant group has conducted thousands of vicious attacks, For example in Somali capital Mogadishu, they carried out their most deadly attack in October 2017, killing more than five hundred people in a massive truck bombing.
In the years that have followed, the group’s attacks have become a routine. They often kill dozens of civilians a month, as they battle the Somali National Army troops and African Union troops there to try and keep them at bay.
Now emboldened by the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan following the US withdrawal, the group are cementing control of their territory, with the aim to take the whole country and implement strict Sharia law.
At the moment, Al-Shabaab control vast swathes of central and southern Somalia but their reach spreads far further, with Somali government control diminishing.
