It appears the command system of al-Shabaab might have been decentralised and the group broken down into cells to give regional al-Shabaab commanders greater autonomy to carry out attacks. This extremist group has gone to the extent of expanding its actions to the Kenyan border with Somalia.
During the IGAD Military Chief’s Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, delegates agreed to take the battle to the al-Shabaab in Somalia. However, this needs to be done with great caution. Lessons from other battles against terrorist groups suggest that adding more soldiers is not the only solution. Rallying the local population to appreciate the threat of these terrorist groups to the region and economic development is of cardinal importance. I am sure it will be an uphill task for the African Union (AU) peacekeepers to uproot this group.
What the force should be doing in its initial stages is to help the Somalia government strengthen its political institutions to deal with terrorist threats. What Somalia needs is a strong, legitimate government, development and a smart counter-insurgency. This may not be easy for a country that has not had an effective government since the overthrow of Siad Barre in 1991, but if implemented, in the long-run it may bring lasting peace to Somalia and, indeed, the entire region.
The AU force may succeed in eliminating this group, but what will happen when they withdraw from Somalia? We need coordinated efforts to fight this terrorist group. They may have targeted Uganda first but the group may plan to hit other countries in Africa.
Another issue at play is piracy. Hijacking of ships has become a major global concern. Security experts fear that the ransom money the pirates are receiving will allow terrorist groups like al-Shabaab to buy better equipment and weapons for larger operations. The United Nations Security Council on June 2, 2008, passed a resolution allowing foreign warships to enter Somali waters for the purposes of repressing piracy and armed robbery at the sea.
Al-Shabaab’s ability to strike in Uganda -which does not border Somalia, is an indication that it has grown in both size and financial ability. In order to reduce its power, there is need for the AU force to deny them access to the seaport of Kismayo and airfields and the same time, monitor waters in the Gulf of Eden.
In conclusion, the growing cooperation between Somali pirates, al Qaeda and other jihad organisations poses a significant threat to people and international trade. High sea piracy is a very profitable business and al Qaeda, together with other terror organisations see it as a source to finance their activities.
Only a decisive, well-coordinated international campaign and building strong governance institutions in Somalia, can reduce the threat of al-Shabaab. Equally vital is cutting off external support to the group and closely monitoring Somali communities in the West. As the East African Seafarers’ Assistance Programme pointed out, funds from piracy have been used to support al-Shabaab activities onshore.
Source: Allafrica