“Dalxoreeye ayaa dib u soo laabtay” Resounding Voices of the Somali People: “The Conqueror Returns” After the May 15th, 2022 Election.
Al-Shabaab, also known as Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen (HSM), is an Islamist militant group operating primarily in Somalia. The group has gained international attention due to its involvement in acts of terrorism, insurgency, and its attempts to establish an Islamic state in the region. Al-Shabaab emerged in the mid-2000s as a militant wing of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), an Islamist organization that aimed to bring stability and Sharia law to Somalia. The ICU briefly gained control over parts of southern Somalia in 2006. However, its efforts were met with resistance from the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and Ethiopian forces.
In December 2006, Ethiopian forces intervened and ousted the ICU from power, leading to the dispersion of its leadership and fighters. Many members of the ICU, including some of its more radical elements, regrouped to form what would later become Al-Shabaab. The group was officially established in early 2007.
After 2007, Al-Shabaab started to expand in many parts of Somalia, they completely took control of Southern Somalia. The Al-Shabaab terrorist organization has caused a lot of trouble and destruction to the Somali people, by destroying the values and honor of the scholars, the glory and the traces of the religion as well as killing innocent people while hiding under the cloak of religion. The Somali government, which has been recovering day by day since the civil war broke out in Somalia in 1991, has lost the strength and power to resist the enemy. Aden Hashi Ceyrow, who was one of the 3 leaders who founded the Al-Shabaab, was killed in the town of Dhusamreeb in the Galgaduud region in 2008 by the US forces. He received military training and lessons in Afghanistan. Among Al-Shabaab, he was known by the name (Macalin Aden) meaning teacher Aden. He was involved in the Gedo war between the Ethiopian and Ittihad forces in the mid-1990s. He was one of the men who led the war in 2006. The death of Macalin Aden did not affect the structure of Al-Shabaab as well as their operations in South and Central Somalia.
In 2011, the transitional government of Somalia succeeded in removing Al-Shabaab from the capital city of Mogadishu, where they defeated the Al-Shabaab after fierce battles between the Somali National Army and the peacekeeping forces of the African Union (AMISOM). A year after the removal of Al-Shabaab from Mogadishu, the first presidential election was held in Mogadishu after the fall of the central government in 1991, and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was elected president. It was there that the struggle against Al-Shabaab began and was removed from the regions along Mogadishu in the Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle. President Hassan Sheikh fought hard against Al-Shabaab and succeeded in removing the control of Al-Shabaab from major cities such as Barawe, Eelbuur and Kismayo.
The terrorist organization Al-Shabaab not only sheds the blood of the Somali nation but also takes money from different parts of society, small businesses, educational institutions, and individuals who work for private companies. They have completely destroyed social interaction and love and there has been less trust as they have been mixed up in different parts of the administration.
In the past five years, there has been no face-to-face war with them, instead, there has been a resurgence of the Somali forces from the areas previously liberated from Al-Shabaab, which has caused them to strengthen militarily and economically, as well as attacks and explosions carried out in Mogadishu. On 15 May 2022, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was re-elected after 5 years in power of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. President Hassan said in his first speech that his most importan plan is to eliminate al-Shabaab from the country by completing the mission he started in 2012, Also, this term will not only fight in terms of military, but also in terms of ideology, economy, and media. There has also been a social uprising that broke out in the regions of Hiraan, Mudug and Galgaduud where the people have started resisting the Al-Shabaab and defending their religion, honor and beliefs. The federal government has led the mission called the eradication of the khawarij phase 1 in which the Al-Shabaab was freed from a most of Hiran region, Middle Shabelle, Mudug and Galgaduud, in less than 6 months, major cities including Mahaas, Adan Yabaal, Masajid Ali Gaduud, Haradhere, Eeldheer, Eelbuur and etc were freed.
The end of phase 1 will be followed by the beginning of phase 2 which will liberate Bay, Bakool, Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Gedo regions of which few parts are left in their hands. Phase 2 of the war will involve neighboring countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, and Uganda, as they have agreed to be part of ending Al-Shabaab in Mogadishu, Kampala, and Addis Ababa meetings this year. President Hassan Sheikh made a visit to the city of Dhusamareeb in the Galmudug State, and it is said that he went there to confirm the completion of Phase 1 of the war. The question that is being asked is whether the elimination of Al-Shabaab will be successful.
Conclusion
The issue of Al-Shabaab and its impact on Somalia and the wider East African region is indeed a significant and complex one. Al-Shabaab has been involved in acts of terrorism, violence, and insurgency in Somalia for many years. It has caused tremendous suffering to the Somali people and posed a security threat to the entire region. It is not ignorable or dismissible that Al-Shabaab has been responsible for numerous massacres and destabilization in Somalia. The group has targeted civilians, government institutions, and African Union peacekeeping forces, leading to widespread suffering and instability. The consequences of their actions have been devastating, and addressing this threat is crucial for the well-being of the Somali people.
Political analysts and experts have consistently highlighted the importance of countering Al-Shabaab as a prerequisite for stabilizing Somalia and allowing the country to rebuild its government, infrastructure, and society. Al-Shabaab's activities have indeed impeded the functioning of the Somali government and hindered the country's progress. Efforts to combat and ultimately eliminate Al-Shabaab are essential for the future of Somalia and the East African region. A successful campaign against the group could pave the way for increased security, economic development, and political stability. Somalia, with its strategic location in the Horn of Africa, has the potential to be a regional leader and contribute positively to the stability of East Africa.
However, it's important to note that addressing the Al-Shabaab threat is a complex and multifaceted challenge. It requires not only military action but also political and socio-economic measures to address the root causes of extremism and provide opportunities for disaffected youth. Regional cooperation and international support are also vital in this endeavor.
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