Interview with an Al Shabaab Member

[Valin]

American Thinker:

Ernest Sipes

9/25/13

 

Although Al Shabaab is the largest and most violent terrorist group in Somalia, there is relatively little known about this Al Qaeda group's day-to-day functioning. Formed in the chaos of Mogadishu in 2006 by the radical Islamic Courts in the capital city, Al Shabaab -- translated from Arabic as "The Youth" -- originally performed duties as enforcers and police for the court.

 

Since being forced out of Mogadishu into rural areas of Somalia in August, 2011, Al Shabaab now has the stated goal of forcing all foreigners out of the country. The group is noted for the violence it uses against enemies and has repeatedly carried out suicide attacks against any individual or entity it deems working against the neo-caliphate system Al Shabaab has as a vision for Somalia. The June 19th suicide bombing of the UN compound in Mogadishu that left more than 15 dead illustrates only too well how willing Al Shabaab is to kill in order to accomplish its goals.

 

In order to put a human face to Al Shabaab, I arranged an interview with Ahmed, a 24 year old, self-described member of Al Shabaab, in the Sahafi Hotel in Mogadishu in late June. He arrived a few minutes late for our meeting dressed casually in western clothes. Around his neck he wore the black shahada flag of Al Qaeda.

 

(Snip)