Al-Shabaab threatens new Somali president with continued campaign of violence.

by Derek Gannon · February 14, 2017

Mogadishu, Somalia - The Somalia based, al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group known as Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen has declared it will continue its campaign of terror and violence against the new western-backed Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and the peace-keeping troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia(AMISOM). Somalia’s President Farmajo, who holds a citizenship from both Somalia and the United States, ran a strong electoral campaign against 19 other opponents which focused on nationalism and ridding the famously failed state of the Islamic terrorist group al-Shabaab. In the end, now President Farmajo won over the people of Somalia and was sworn in as the nation’s president on February 8th.

During the run up to the election, al-Shabaab, also conducted its own campaign by way of car bombings and guerrilla hit-and-run tactics against the city of Mogadishu and its surroundings, targeting AMISOM and civilians alike in protest of the upcoming elections. Citing that Western influence and widespread corruption within the Somali government that will put Western-backed ‘puppets’ in seats of power within the Somali Parliament and the Presidency. The Sunday after Farmajo won the presidency, al-Shabaab leadership in the town of Jilib, just northwest of the southern Somali port city of Kismayo, held an impromptu parade. It encompassed over 800 of its newly trained and ready to fight members marching through the streets of Jilib in a display of renewed commitment and vigor in al-Shabaab’s fight against AMISOM and the Somali government with one of al-Shabaab’s leaders declaring that “fresh new attacks” on Somali Army and AMISOM installations and convoys are on the horizon and to have Somali and AMISOM forces to prepare for bloodshed.

About Derek Gannon

A freelance journalist based on the West Coast. Green Beret veteran of the Global War on Terror. He researches and reports on African, and Horn of Africa Terror Networks & News. Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Member, Humanist, and Former Armed Anthropologist that longs for what was, the American Dream. Veteran of 82nd, 173rd, RTB, & "The Legion" 5th Special Forces Group (A/1/5 CIF). Twitter: @derekgannoncm6.

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Wet
The Hunger.It kills in more ways then 1.
Susan B
I had read a while ago, maybe 6-7 years ago about a phenomenon along the west African coastline. Before the piracy became a big deal. The people were eating off all the wildlife including predators because they were starving. Therefore either environmentalists or missionaries, I can't remember now, went over there and noticed a smell that kept pervading the area at certain times of the year. No one could tell them what was causing it. So they searched and found the reason. Long story short...Because foreign fishing boats were encroaching on their coastlines and were too large to chase off, they lost all their fish. Then, with no fish to keep the algae in check, it spread widely and thickly and then died off...hence the smell. The Somalian coastline became barren and does not support fish. So the people started eating anything and everything else to stay alive. These areas are called Dead Zones See: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2015/10/illegal-overfishing-return-somalia-pirates-151006111159994.html Without being able to sustain themselves on the fishing, and losing their agriculture which was sparse at best, I can see why that becomes a bigger threat to them than al-Shabaab. I know there were agricultural missionaries there, perhaps even now, helping with wells and sustainable agriculture/permaculture. I believe the terrorism ended much of that support. Such a shame that power-hungry ideologues would rather hold on to a peace of hell rather than to help support their nation toward growing stronger and independent again. I just hate to see people spend all their time tearing things apart when it is so much more rewarding to work together to create something greater than its individual parts. I know this wasn't the point of your article but I couldn't help reflecting on some of the background. Thanks Derek.