The United Nations has maintained that the official al Qaeda in Somalia al Shabaab remains a potent threat to the Horn of Africa’s peace and security despite failing to designate it as a terror organization earlier in the year.
The threat by al Shabaab is especially catalyzed by the group’s undwindling ability to manufacture home-made explosives, expanding its revenue sources and infiltrating government institutions and attack highly secure targets. The group has shown its capability in conducting attacks both in Somalia as well as neighboring countries especially Kenya was championing the designation of al Shabaab by the UN.
According to a recent report by the UN, the escalation of U.S. airstrikes targeting al-Shabab militants and leaders has kept the al-Qaida-linked group off-balance but has had little effect on its ability to launch regular asymmetric attacks throughout Somalia.
Al Shabab maintains direct control or influence over vast swaths of the hinterland and is able to cut off main supply routes and isolate government pockets. In the past months attacks by the Al Shabaab using improvised explosive targeting civilians in restaurants, marketplaces, camps for displaced people, shopping centers, government offices, and hotels have seen a significant spike.
The report comes at such a time when Kenya’s sought to have the group designated as a terrorist organization to allow a more comprehensive offensive against the group. The request was however denied by the UN and as such allowing the group atrocities. While AMISOM and other partners maintain a strong offensive against the group, it is not enough seeing as they have extensive networks especially in rural areas that give then tactical advantage against the troops. additionally, an impeding withdrawal by AMISOM troops threatens to undo the gains against al Shabaab seeing as the SNA is weak and has not developed the needed capability to sustain Somalia’s security by itself without external reinforcements.
