Nov 02, 2009 while it is true that al qaeda has penetrated into parts of somalia, it is another thing altogether to prove a link between piracy and al qaeda, says ms. Not just the things of fantasy novels, reallife pirates exist in the world today. November 2009 maritime terrorism in the eyes of alqaeda. Somali pirates, al qaeda, and homegrown terrorists in england. Bradsher, k 2002 warnings from al qaeda stir fear that terrorists may. Various research projects point to other reasons being behind the somali piracy phenomenon, such as a lack of supervision and security in the area and a difficult socioeconomic background. With somali piracy in the rearview mirror, it is now possible to assess the ramifications from it, exposing the irony of it all. Some of the somali immigrants who have mysteriously disappeared from the minneapolis area have been recruited for jihad by al shabaab, which has also attracted jihad fighters from around the world to join its efforts to take control in somalia. The recent string of ship hijackings has stirred conjecture about a link between the somali pirates and al qaeda. Shinn, al qaeda in east africa and the horn, journal of con.
Jul 05, 2009 pirates smuggling al qaeda fighters into somalia somali islamists bent on turning their land into an international haven for al qaeda are using pirate gangs to offer foreign militants safe. The obama administration is intensifying its campaign against an al qaeda affiliate in somalia by boosting the number of proxy forces in the wartorn country, expanding drone operations and. September 5, 2014 introduction al shabab, or the youth, is an al qaeda linked militant group and u. Al shabab developed and thrived in large part because of somalias bleak living conditions. Mohamed garfanje, an influential leader of the hobyoharardhere piracy network, is accused of helping al shabaab and the islamic state in somalia. Richard lough, piracy ransom cash ends up with somali militants. African troops battling an al qaeda affiliate in somalia for the past decade stand little chance of withdrawing by their deadline in two years as the government remains fragile and a spike in. Piracy, maritime terrorism and naval strategy peace palace library. Apr 20, 2009 the recent string of ship hijackings has stirred conjecture about a link between the somali pirates and al qaeda.
Apr 05, 2002 why somalia is a likely refuge for al qaeda. In recent years, the predominant perpetrator of violence in somalia has been the al qaeda affiliated jihadist group al shabaab. It has been suggested that alqaeda have received funding from pirate operations. Today, terrorist organizations that brandish the flag or its image include al qaeda, al shabaab a somali based group affiliated with al qaeda. By anna zaros february, 2010 this piece was written while the author was completing a master of arts degree in peace studies at the joan b. Piracy off the coast of somalia, a country that for 15 years had no central government and no internal law enforcement, is soaring. Assessing the consequences of the failed state of somalia. A ticking time bomb a report to the committee on foreign relations united states senate one hundred eleventh congress second session january 21, 2010 printed for the use of the committee on foreign relations available via world wide web. Those connections come as unwelcome news for us military officials working to. A feared somali pirate kingpin is being investigated by the united nations over claims that he has aided fighters from the al qaeda aligned militant group al shabab. The piracy threat, along with alqaedas affiliated regional terrorism, have been the international communitys focus in the horn of africa. Jul 10, 2017 four years since piracy attacks reached their peak, cnn sources have found threats on somali waters are broader than ever.
Pirates smuggling alqaeda fighters into somalia fiogf49gjkf0d somali islamists bent on turning their land into an international haven for al qaeda are using pirate gangs to offer foreign militants safe passage into the country, the sunday telegraph has been told. Evidence of links between alshabaab and aqap issuu. Somalia piratesmuslim terrorists shuttling al qaeda terrorists and weapons for alshabab, sharing ransoms. But the more we do in yemen, the stronger the chances that we will become more deeply.
Somali refuges as far as canada and the united states contribute money to the cause 6, in addition to financial backing from sources in saudi arabia, dubai, yemen and al qaeda. Dec 01, 20 al qaidas american spokesman has said that the uss kidnapping of an al qaida suspect from libya is a crime of piracy, and urged libyans to attack us interests everywhere adam gadahn, a former. There are also claims that the pirates may be forming ties with al qaeda. Apr 23, 2017 the contingent of about 100 troops there has attempted to bolster the fledging somali military and its efforts against al shabab militants before a coalition of african countries, called amisom. Inside alshabaab is the definitive history of the somali militant group, rich with newly disclosed details about the groups genesis and its ties to alqaeda. In february 2009, ayman alzawahiri, alqaedas secondincommand, released a video that began by praising shabaabs seizure of the somali town of baidoa. Learn about al shabab, the al qaeda affiliate with continued influence in somalia, and track the latest developments in the country using cfrs global conflict tracker. The pirates in the gulf of aden have always sought ransom payments or loot they have not been motivated by islamic fundamentalism. Al shabaab did not have to wait long to find out what the response would be. Al somali has been high on the us target list due to his position as external operations chief. Al qaeda does have links to islamic extremist groups operating in somalia but, thus far, piracy and al qaeda. Somali piracy is concerned, a diis brief by the same author is devoted.
Having trained with the taliban in afghanistan, ahmed abdi godane, the former leader of al shabaab had been associated with osama bin laden. Arabian al qaeda operative has called on somali jihadists to step up their attacks on crusader forces at sea in the pirateinfested gulf of aden, and. Not only are the somali pirates islamic jihadists, but their religious identity is much more. When a young british man turns up among a boatload of captured somali pirates, liz carlyle rushes to france to interview him. Al qaeda s presence in somalia can be traced back to the early 2000s while senior al qaeda. No direct connection between al shabab and 19 piracy. A usun ban on ransom payments that support the expansion of pirate operations and support for east african al qaeda al shabaab terror.
The worst thugs and goons in this world always have the american media to thank when it comes to image building. Al qaeda publicists would like to jump on the back of the successful somali pirates whether they enjoy any association or not. Piracy off the coast of somalia occurs in the gulf of aden, guardafui channel and somali sea. Somali pirate kings under probe for helping isis and al. This realization has led to the formation of a counter terrorism strategy to help stop the spread of terrorism in somalia without the use of war or violence. The potential fundraising capabilities within the somali piracy network and yemens ideological base and operating space provide al qaeda with useful resources to wage war against the u. It has included a number of bombing attacks in north africa and supporting parties in civil wars in eritrea and somalia.
Pirates and terrorists are working together now in somalia. Al somali s position as external operations chief was not made public until. As we record these crimes, we do not do so as a complaint or out of weakness, but to teach people, the article states, especially our people in somalia, what the al qaeda branch in somalia has done, because the response from the islamic state is coming. In addition, while studying the interactions between somalia and yemen, we will attempt to answer some other important questions arising from this relationship. Kroc institute for international peace studies at the university of notre dame. A somali militant group that has pledged allegiance to al qaeda has turned to piracy to finance its effort to topple somalia s government, posing new risks for shipping companies and the.
Somali justice advocacy center expresses deep concern over al qaeda involvement in piracy in somalia and cautions u. Since the beginning of the 1990s, somalia has been a hotspot for terrorism, conflict and instability. Al shabaab is an al qaedaaffiliated organization that has risen rapidly to. Somali piracy, executed by some of the most marginalized people on the planet, managed to affect the entire global economy and alter international foreign policy for the better. Introduction somalia has long been viewed as a country constantly mired by war, a hopeless case that many in the international community are hesitant to engage.
Al qaeda has conducted operations and recruited members in africa. In may 2008, al shabaabs new leader openly pledged support for osama bin laden. Nov, 2011 evidence of links between al shabaab and aqap published on nov, 2011 evidence of increasing alliance between islamic militants in somalia, yemen and al qaeda. Sep 25, 2010 somali leader slams alshabaab, piracy by the cnn wire staff armed members of the extremist islamic al shabab group at a demonstration at the citys stadium in mogadishu on september 15. Jan 07, 2010 is al qaeda in yemen connected to al qaeda in somalia. Eight taliban and al qaeda operatives were reported killed in the strike. It once held sway over the capital of mogadishu and large portions of the somali countryside, but in. Al qaedas external operations chief thought killed in us. What initially, in 2005, was a handful of unpopular hardcore militants has by 2009 become the dominant military force in southern and central somalia. Jul 06, 2011 piracy ransom cash ends up with somali militants. From 1991 to 1996, osama bin laden and other al qaeda leaders were based in sudan. The policy community agreed that somali piracy began because no effective government existed to prevent it. While the groups initial focus was primarily domestic, in the past few years it has expanded its presence. S is committed to deny the al qaeda, the al shabaab and other terrorists a safe haven in somalia.
It is possible, though i have no proof, that the yemeni mother ship in operation this past week might have an al qaeda nexus of some sort. Al qaeda is pursuing a global strategy of enmeshing its forces in local movements and militias. Islam in somalia has been described as a veil lightly worn menkhaus, 2002, p. Pirates and terrorists are working together now in somalia vox. The potential fundraising capabilities within the somali piracy network and yemens ideological base and operating space provide al qaeda with useful resources to.
Piracy off the coast of somalia has been plaguing the international shipping industry since the early 21st century leading to increased shipping expenses. Apr 16, 2009 al qaeda urges somalis to attack ships. Jul 07, 2011 assessing the consequences of the failed state of somalia joint hearing before the subcommittee on africa, global health, and human rights and the subcommittee on terrorism, nonproliferation, and trade of the committee on foreign affairs house of representatives one hundred twelfth congress first session july 7, 2011 serial no. Aggressive rules of engagement giving authority for local naval commanders to. Qaeda still holds sway over the somali group, given al shabaabs history and al qaeda s presence in somalia. Recent evidence also indicates that the somali pirates hand over a part of their millions in ransom money to al shabaab, the somali rebel group that has been linked to al qaeda.
Somali piracy has all but vanished, but not because of multinational naval action off the horn of africa. Somali pirates, al qaeda, and england homegrown terrorists. Al qaeda core, its affiliated groups, associated groups, and adherents, and how they have changed over time. On 8 april 2009, four somali pirates seized mv maersk alabama 240 nautical miles 440. For the pirates, it is in their interests to have money and it is in their interests to have prisoners captured by the french to. French intelligence agent denis allex has been reportedly killed by somali militants linked to al qaeda. Opinion al shabab fights the pirates the new york times. It was initially a threat to international fishing vessels, expanding to international shipping since the second phase of the somali civil war, around 2000.
Alshabaab and its relationship to alqaeda is a significant concern for the united states and its partners in the region. Two attacks by al qaeda are often mentioned as instances of maritime terrorism. However, it is reasonably likely that the somali pirates will be befriended by groups like the taliban or al qaeda, for whom pirates can easily steal money and weapons. Jul, 2017 pirates and terrorists are working together now in somalia. Piracy, illegal fishing, and maritime insecurity in somalia. Because of the close ties it has to al qaeda, the somalian islamist militant group al shabab has access to al qaeda sympathizers and support. Somalia pirates shuttling al qaeda terrorists and weapons for. Militants have demanded a cut of up to 20% of pirate ransoms, though officials do not believe pirates become themselves members of alshabaab. Is al qaeda in yemen connected to al qaeda in somalia. Cooperation between somalia s al qaeda linked militants and pirate gangs is growing as the al shabaab group becomes more desperate for funding, the head of the u. With sustained military pressure from the tfg national security force and amisom, alshabaabs hold on mogadishu has decreased. Four years since piracy attacks reached their peak, cnn sources have found threats on somali waters are broader than ever.
Al shabab developed and thrived in large part because of somalia s bleak living conditions. Evidence of links between al shabaab and aqap published on nov, 2011 evidence of increasing alliance between islamic militants in somalia, yemen and al qaeda. Various research projects point to other reasons being behind the somali piracy phenomenon, such as a lack of supervision and security in the area and a. Alqaeda foreign operatives dominate alshabaab executive coun cil. How somalias al shabab grew into a global terror threat. Al shabab, or the youth, is an islamist insurgent group based in somalia. Maritime terrorism,piracy observer research foundation. By nur aziemah binte azman and syed huzaifah bin othman alkaff synopsis the islamic state in iraq and alsham isis is expanding into somalia with factions of the al shabaab militant groups pledging allegiance to its caliph abu bakar al baghdadi. Alshabaab uses terrorism with the stated political aim of turning somalia into an islamic state. Its a great introduction for those new to the topic, but its also a landmark work and absolutely required reading for those who study and work to counter terrorism.
Article information, pdf download for war on piracy. The international community was particularly worried about collaboration between somalibased pirates and the al qaedalinked al shabaab. For now, we do not know whether the proceeds of piracy are financing other forms of terrorism. Pirates smuggling alqaeda fighters into somalia telegraph. Somalia, a country slightly smaller than the state of texas, long has been one of the worlds poorest and least developed countries. Al qaeda and affiliates congressional research service summary al qaeda aq has evolved into a significantly different terrorist organization than the one that. Without intervention by international governmental and nongovernmental organizations, somalia will continue to suffer from the volatility and instability of insurgency and justice will not be reached. Al qaeda urges somali pirates to attack ships homeland.
Al qaeda does have links to islamic extremist groups operating in somalia but, thus far, piracy and al qaedas brand of terrorism have remained largely separate. Somalia s armed islamist movement al shabab has joined ranks with al qaeda, the latters chief ayman al zawahiri has announced in a video message posted on online forums. In yemen, al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap seeks to strengthen and build its support base through a focus on the local fight. While it is true that al qaeda has penetrated into parts of somalia, it is another thing altogether to prove a link between piracy and al qaeda, says ms.
Piracy ransom cash ends up with somali militants reuters. The renewed focus on isis distracts from the greater emerging longterm threat posed by al qaeda. Piracy, somalia, somali piracy, terrorism, war on terror. Alshabab, or the youth, is an islamist insurgent group based in somalia. When al qaeda suicide bombers smashed a small boat into the. Implications of the al qaedaal shabaab relationship. In the wake of the christmas day northwest airlines bombing attempt, some are wondering if the al qaeda branches in yemen and somalia are. I will elaborate here on some things that have been bandied about from time to. Al qaeda believed that somalia offered a safe haven for its operations in the. The strategies of the group resemble those of al qaeda cells in other.
974 1325 366 385 1351 911 321 1471 1277 513 1188 111 1261 213 802 145 287 1116 1238 876 1319 1209 694 490 200 91 703 723 1149 539 113 730 474 473 1444