Its a Good book I only wished he started at a Earlier timeline,
Inside Al-Shabaab mostly focuses on mid-2000s onward.
It would of been good to Explain the Start of it all how Jihadism and Islamists First Came to Somalia and how it finally became ALSHabaab.
If i was to write a Book about AlShabaab i would start with ,
Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya and its Orgins 80s
Somalia’s collapse after the Ogaden War (1977–78) and weakening of Siad Barre’s regime.
Rise of religious movements as an alternative to clan-based politics.
Influenced by the
Muslim Brotherhood and
Wahhabi movements from Saudi Arabia.
Links to Afghan Jihad veterans who fought against the Soviets.
Al Itihaad sets up bases in Puntland and the Ethiopian border regions.
Tensions between Al Itihaad and Aidid’s Habr Gedir militia escalate into direct fighting.
During the 1993
Battle of Mogadishu (“Black Hawk Down”), some Al-Itihaad fighters reportedly fought alongside Aidid’s militia.
Al-Qaeda operatives use Somalia as a rear base after the US leaves.
Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan and the Mombasa Connection
Ethiopian military pressure in the late 90s–early 2000s dismantles much of Al-Itihaad as a formal group.
Surviving fighters and leaders disperse:
Some join
Islamic Courts Union in Mogadishu.
Younger, more radical members form the core of
Al-Shabaab.
I think Readers Should know and understand that this Wasnt just a 10 year thing, This started after 1977 and slowly grew to what we see now. It took decades, Blood, Sweat, Tears, and Many dead leaders for the environment that we see today.
One thing i can Give Al Shabaab credit for is how they treat the Local population, they learned that from Al-Itihaad
Famous Members of Al Itihaad were
Gouled Hassan Dourad aka one of Guantánamo’s Most Isolated Prisoners
Fahad Yasin former head of NISA
Aden Hasi Ayro
Hassan Dahir Aweys
Hassan Al Turk
