The most high-profile foreign fighter in Shabab, Omar Hammami, published two documents online yesterday detailing splits among Shabab’s leaders. Clint Watts has the scoop. Last night, I helped Clint read through the longer of the two Arabic documents and here were some things that struck me: Global vs. Local: Hammami uses “Ansar” (“Helpers”) for Somali [...]
Archive for the ‘Somalia’ Category
Shabab and al-Qaeda Infighting (or Game of Thrones, Somali Style)
Posted: 8th January 2013 by Will McCants in foreign fighters, Somalia2
(Editor’s note: This post is the last from our guest blogger Jean-Pierre Filiu this time around. He might be back later in the year with occasional articles, but he is now leaving the stage for our next guest. Please join me in thanking Jean-Pierre warmly for his excellent contributions. And if you read French, buy [...]
The Somali Shabab al-Mujahidin just released its “Eid gift” to all Muslims: a video dedicated and pledging allegiance to Usama Bin Laden. (The video is also on youtube). The production is subtitled in English and features the now famous Abu Mansour al-Amriki. One of the targeted audiences is obviously the English-speaking one, which makes sense [...]
Visions of Afghan and Somali Emirates
Posted: 27th August 2009 by Scott Sanford in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, propaganda, Somalia, StrategyOn 25 August 2009, the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF) published a plea by Dr. John Boutros for Muslims to aid the jihadi cause. He stated, “Do not mourn because the Islamic Caliphate is imminent… Trust me, the US is one or two thrusts” away from crumpling. However, in order to make this happen Muslims [...]
The Posts That Never Were
Posted: 13th July 2009 by Thomas Hegghammer in Afghanistan, France, Islamic State of Iraq, Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, Pakistan, Somalia, Strategy, USAApologies for the slow publication pace here at Jihadica, but deadlines and an upcoming house move mean I can only dream about serious blogging these days. This does not mean forums are quiet. Every morning this past week I found things on the forums that deserved commentary. In a dream world, here’s what I would [...]
Back
Posted: 26th March 2009 by Thomas Hegghammer in AQ in Iraq, Bin Laden, China, Islamic State of Iraq, Jihadi media, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, propaganda, Somalia, Yemen, ZawahiriI have been busy the past two weeks, but the jihadis have been busier. Bin Ladin has issued two audio statements, one proposing practical steps to liberate Palestine and the other about the treacherous government in Somalia. Al-Zawahiri warned against the forthcoming Crusader attack on Sudan, while Mustafa Abu al-Yazid has addressed the people of [...]
Shabaab Propaganda Indicates Growing Power, Anxiety
Posted: 4th January 2009 by Will McCants in SomaliaTags: Shabaab
The Shabaab Movement has greatly accelerated its Arabic propaganda efforts in the last two weeks, keeping pace with its growing power in Somalia (compare it with their meager attempts just three months ago). In the two week period there have been at least four major publications (video and audio). The acceleration might be attributed to [...]
New Jihadi Mags Analyze Mumbai, Somali Pirates
Posted: 18th December 2008 by Will McCants in Pakistan, Somalia, UncategorizedTags: Mumbai, Pirates
Issue 31 of Sada al-Jihad is out, as well as issue 4 of Qadaya Jihadiyya. In Sada, Ta Ha al-Miqdad argues that the Mumbai attacks demonstrated that Jihadis have a “strategic awareness” because: They hit the commercial center of India at a time of great global economic instability. All of the attacks were from Pakistan, [...]
When Will Somalia’s Shabaab Movement Declare An Islamic State?
Posted: 16th November 2008 by Will McCants in Islamic State of Iraq, SomaliaTags: Shabaab, Somalia
That’s the question asked by a member of the Faloja forum. Here are some of the answers: Al-Yamami: The Shabaab will soon declare its allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI); that’s why ISI’s head, `Umar al-Baghdadi, mentioned the movement recently. Muhibb al-Muqrin: It will be become an emirate and remain so until [...]
New Issues of Two Jihadi Journals
Posted: 5th October 2008 by Will McCants in Afghanistan, AQ Leadership, Jihadi journals, SomaliaTags: Afghanistan, Somali
Issue 12 of the Tala’i` Khurasan (Vanguards of Khurasan) is out. Several big names have written pieces, including Atiyyat Allah (we have to learn from our mistakes), Abu al-Walid al-Ansari (how past jihads failed), Abu Yahya al-Libi (fighting to restore the Sharia is the only way forward in Palestine), and Mustafa Abu al-Yazid (the meaning [...]