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Somalia is constantly in the news, most recently for the rising piracy along the Gulf of Aden. While media attention ebbs and flows, U.S. politicians have been keeping an eye on the "failed state" since a coup overthrew the government in 1991.
Today, an estimated 200,000 Somali-born residents and their relatives are the subject of a Senate Homeland Security committee hearing. Over a dozen Somali-American teenagers and young men have disappeared, provoking fear among the U.S. intelligence community of "homegrown terrorism" that has been exported out of the country, but may return to America. A few months ago, the first successful recruitment by al-Shabab of a U.S. citizen resulted in a suicide bombing mission.
Al-Shabab, "the youth" in Arabic, is the military wing of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) which opposes the presence of foreign troops (including African Union peacekeepers) and wants to impose Shari'a - Islamic law - across Somalia. The organization's goal is to get the "infidels" out of the country. Al-Shabab conducted an insurgency against the interim government and its Ethiopian allies. Hit-and-run attacks continue to plague Somalia.
Although a very Islam-influenced country, many Somalis do not share al-Shabab's vision of an Islamic state. Somalia has a tradition of moderate and tolerant Islam and there is no widespread support for fanaticism. However, extremism is growing and Somalis are afraid to talk about it.
The Somali Cabinet voted to incorporate Shari'a, making Islamic law the basis of the country's legal system in an attempt to isolate the more extreme militants by agreeing to a demand that is supported by much of the population. Several armed groups have promised to stop fighting the government if Shari'a is implemented. However, al-Shabab vows to continue its violence because they do not recognize the government as legitimate.
Sharif Ahmed is Somalia's new president, a young Islamic cleric and former leader of the ICU. He is committed to dialogue with various militias and warlords, though he is preparing for war. Al-Shabab insists that the new government is the same as the previous one. President Ahmed wants to return the government to Mogadishu, Somalia's capital, and offer city residents law and order that has been lacking for years.
* Hsu, Spencer and Carrie Johnson "Somali Americans Recruited by Extremists" Washington Post 11 Mar 2009.
* "Somalia To Get Sharia-Based Law" Al-Jazeera 11 Mar 2009.
* Adow, Mohammed. "Somalia at a Crossroads" Al-Jazeera 24 Feb 2009.
* Abdi Elmi, Afyare. "Opinion: UN and US Should Restore Somalia" Al-Jazeera 27 Jan 2009.
* "Meeting Somalia's Islamist Insurgents" BBC 28 Apr 2008.
* "Profile: Somalia's Islamic Lads" BBC 21 Mar 2008.
Today, an estimated 200,000 Somali-born residents and their relatives are the subject of a Senate Homeland Security committee hearing. Over a dozen Somali-American teenagers and young men have disappeared, provoking fear among the U.S. intelligence community of "homegrown terrorism" that has been exported out of the country, but may return to America. A few months ago, the first successful recruitment by al-Shabab of a U.S. citizen resulted in a suicide bombing mission.
Al-Shabab, "the youth" in Arabic, is the military wing of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) which opposes the presence of foreign troops (including African Union peacekeepers) and wants to impose Shari'a - Islamic law - across Somalia. The organization's goal is to get the "infidels" out of the country. Al-Shabab conducted an insurgency against the interim government and its Ethiopian allies. Hit-and-run attacks continue to plague Somalia.
Although a very Islam-influenced country, many Somalis do not share al-Shabab's vision of an Islamic state. Somalia has a tradition of moderate and tolerant Islam and there is no widespread support for fanaticism. However, extremism is growing and Somalis are afraid to talk about it.
The Somali Cabinet voted to incorporate Shari'a, making Islamic law the basis of the country's legal system in an attempt to isolate the more extreme militants by agreeing to a demand that is supported by much of the population. Several armed groups have promised to stop fighting the government if Shari'a is implemented. However, al-Shabab vows to continue its violence because they do not recognize the government as legitimate.
Sharif Ahmed is Somalia's new president, a young Islamic cleric and former leader of the ICU. He is committed to dialogue with various militias and warlords, though he is preparing for war. Al-Shabab insists that the new government is the same as the previous one. President Ahmed wants to return the government to Mogadishu, Somalia's capital, and offer city residents law and order that has been lacking for years.
* Hsu, Spencer and Carrie Johnson "Somali Americans Recruited by Extremists" Washington Post 11 Mar 2009.
* "Somalia To Get Sharia-Based Law" Al-Jazeera 11 Mar 2009.
* Adow, Mohammed. "Somalia at a Crossroads" Al-Jazeera 24 Feb 2009.
* Abdi Elmi, Afyare. "Opinion: UN and US Should Restore Somalia" Al-Jazeera 27 Jan 2009.
* "Meeting Somalia's Islamist Insurgents" BBC 28 Apr 2008.
* "Profile: Somalia's Islamic Lads" BBC 21 Mar 2008.