Description
Indiana University Press Inside Al-Shabaab by Dan Joseph Harun Maruf
One of the most powerful Islamic militant groups in Africa AlShabaab exerts Talibanlike rule over millions in Somalia and poses a growing threat to stability in the Horn of Africa. Somalis risk retaliation or death if they oppose or fail to comply with AlShabaabimposed restrictions on aspects of everyday life such as clothing media sports interpersonal relations and prayer. Inside AlShabaab: The Secret History of AlQaedas Most Powerful Ally recounts the rise fall and resurgence of this overlooked terrorist organization and provides an intimate understanding of its connections with AlQaeda. Drawing from interviews with former AlShabaab militants including highranking officials military commanders police and foot soldiers authors Harun Maruf and Dan Joseph reveal the motivations of those who commit their lives to the group and its violent jihadist agenda. A wealth of sources including US diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks letters taken from the Pakistani hideout of Osama bin Laden case files from the prosecution of American AlShabaab members emails from Hillary Clintons tenure as secretary of state and AlShabaabs own statements and recruiting videos inform Maruf and Josephs investigation of the United States campaign against AlShabaab and how the 2006 USbacked Ethiopian invasion of Somalia gave the group the popular support it needed to radicalize ordinary citizens and become a powerful movement.show more