October 31, 2012
Al-Shabaab is trying to rally international support for its demoralised fighters after losing the port city stronghold of Kismayo by issuing threats to a number of countries, security officials and analysts say.
Al-Shabaab has been updating its Twitter account regularly since the loss in an attempt to remain relevant and incite its followers to defend themselves against what it calls war and brutality against innocent Muslims.
The militant group has threatened to attack Britain as well as neighbouring countries to Somalia.
In a series of 15 Twitter posts on October 22nd, al-Shabaab said Britain would "pay the heftiest price for its brazen role in the war against Islam and endless brutality against innocent Muslims".
"The nightmare that surreptitiously looms on British shores is bound to eclipse the horrors of 7/7 and 21/7 combined," al-Shabaab said.
The London bombings on July 7, 2005, were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks on the city's public transport system that killed 52 civilians and the four bombers. Two weeks later, four attempted bomb attacks disrupted part of the city's public transport system.
Al-Shabaab also pledged retaliation for a decision by the High Court in London to extradite radical cleric Mustafa Kamel Mustafa, better known as Abu Hamza al-Masri, to the United States on October 5th. Mustafa is charged with setting up a training camp in Oregon, which he denied October 9th in a New York court.
On Sunday (October 28th), the militant group renewed its threats against Kenya, whose military has been fighting al-Shabaab in Somalia for over a year.
"The enemies we are facing have made historic miscalculation when they sent Kenya to invade the Muslim land of Somalia," said one tweet attributed to al-Shabaab leader Mukhtar Abu Zubayr, also known as Ahmed Godane. "Kenya will soon regret having embarked on this particular course of action, Insha Allaah [God willing]."
Analysts and security officials told Sabahi that the threats are attempts by the al-Qaeda-allied group to divert attention from the loss of Kismayo.
Retired army Major Bashir Hajji Abdullahi, a Nairobi based security analyst and consultant, said the group's leadership hopes the threats to conduct operations on foreign soil will not only make al-Shabaab relevant internationally, but also inspire its own fighters who he said feel demoralised after being misled into thinking they were invincible in Kismayo.
David Ochami, a Mombasa-based journalist who follows militant groups in the Middle East and Horn of Africa for Kenya's The Standard, told Sabahi that al-Shabaab's threats should not be underestimated despite their recent losses.
"With foreign jihadists among its ranks, even a lone militant is dangerous," Ochami said. "They may lack an area from which to form, but they will desperately resort to guerrilla tactics to remain relevant."
The threats can be seen as rallying calls to boost the morale of al-Shabaab fighters who have fled and joined civilian populations, according to Ochami.
He said al-Shabaab's threats against Britain may not mean an attack on British soil, adding that more vigilance is needed to protect British and other foreign nationals in Kenya and elsewhere.
Still, Ochami downplayed al-Shabaab's ability to launch large scale attacks, even closer to home.
"Nobody loses sleep these days when they issue threats because they have no capacity to commit a large scale attack in the short term," he said.
Kenyan Defence Minister Yusuf Haji said the government takes the threats seriously and is working with embassies of foreign countries daily to review the threats and work out the best way to respond to them.
"We are committed to the war on the militants," he told Sabahi. "It will be long one, but good has always prevailed over evil."
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Reader's Comments
Peace on you. I am in Ethiopia and may the almighty God finish the remnants of Al Shabaab. May God also unite the Somalia government.
First I would like to greet all the staff for this Sabahi website, besides it is also good for the society and checking on the government is also something normal but they have been misleading the Somalis on a number of things. Shabaab is good for some things and bad for others. They are good in ensuring peace and stability but they bad in what they normally do in terms of perpetrating the suicide bombings of poor people, slaughtering people and a few other things that they normally rush for. Regarding enforcing the veil, it is okay but everything they do is to create fear and turn people against them. But I would advise them to avoid killing their people by doing the suicide bombs amidst them every day.
Al-Shabaab are the only people standing for the protection of the religion of God. They are people supported by God, so we should help them do whatever we can do for them. They are our brothers therefore let's not insult them if we cannot work with them. I pray to God to support them and give them success.
Let them be beaten.
I live in Djibouti. Al-Shabaab got destroyed and this is the leftovers of its main power to fight and they have no strengh. I congratulate the military of Djibouti that lives in Baladweyn.
What Al-Shabaab members are doing is right because they are defending their right
THE KENYAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY OR ELSE IT WILL FIND ITSELF AT A BAD STAGE BECAUSE THIS GROUP IS DANGEROUS
I would like to send a clear message from here to those who serve the interest of the disbelievers or the sycophants. You should understand that Islam or the Muslim creed will never be defeated. I swear in the name of God, anyone dreaming of ruling Somalia with something else other than the holy book is not aware of the current issues or dreaming. Somalia will never be ruled with something else other than the the holy book and the followers of the disbelievers and those who turned away from Islam should know that.
The war against Al-Shabaab is a war against terrorism so we pray that the soldiers get extra strength in order to face it.
they are supposed to be delt with accordingly.
I want to join Al-Shabaab.
Threats of alshabab are just but kicks of a deing..The modern society has no space for people who have respect for mankind.bravo to kenyan defence Forces.
Peace on you. I think the government has to be alert because no one can know who is Al-Shabaab and who is not. Therefore I would like to urge the government to protect places where people gather such as public gatherings and markets.
The alshabab threats should not be taken for granted and this should the kenyan gorvement of the recent bomb in nairobi.
Somalia will never be out of its failed status and destruction and we pray to God to further increase its problems, destruction, wars and fights that will never end til the time Mahdi speaks. Amen, God willing.
I tell AL SHABAAB that, they will not make it since they have informed us.Those are speculations.
lets face the reality n stop burrying our heads in the sand, our so called leaders are incapable of creating A TERROR FREE COUNTRY.not until they stop meddling in al shabaab business
To me, I think Silanyo was known for this and it is a sign of poor leadership. It has been ruling the country for 2 years and hated more than the government of Dahir Riyaale that ruled for 8 years.
threats to be taken serious....it is the right way to go
Peace on you. My brothers, I would like to tell you those men insulting the holy war fighters are lost and they should therefore repent to God.
Islam is not about condening others to gullows, its the idiologises thatare misguided that is bringing problems to islamic religion
The problems by the terrorist group; Al-Shabaab to the people has come to an end and those government whose military is in Somalia can do nothing at the moment.
The question is what peace cannot be born and for what reason?
aaL-sHABAB IS NOTHING ISLAMIC
we shall not allow
May God put in hell-fire the administrators of this website and make hell their home. You are following a path same as the one that destroyed Pharaoh. You constantly talk ill about Islam and you are demoralizing Islam in Somalia. May God end you up in the hell-fire in the hereafter and subject you to losses in this world. May the wrath of God be on you.
Good to know about these threats.They should not be taken lightly.
I am opposed to this because it is not logic.
this just but a nightmare....
Kenyans security personnel should take the threat seriously because they embark through gourrilla tactics so let KDF be on alert as we face election
I think that was just speculations.
Al-Shabaab was better than the so called Ras-kamboni and Kenya because Kenya does not want peace for Somalia. Kenya should leave our country or else our country will be under colony. I think Al-Shabaab or the government of Somalia is better to rule Kismayo but Kenya does want a government to be born in Somalia.
Empty threats!
It is wrong because Al-Shabaab is a power that will never get destroyed because they fight using the Muslim creed (TOWHID). As a result, Kenya is trying to cover the sunlight with its PALMS which is impossible. Al-Shabaab is the power of the horn of Africa and Kenya will soon come under the rule of the movement; AL-Shabaab. Kenya is going to END.
Its good to eliminate few who are taking advantange by making the country and the neighbours poorer every day.
We want to tell Al-Shabaab that their time has expired and we are sorry that their time has expired.
Al-shabaab should be wiped out
Peace on you. My brothers, let me talk about this news. What do people want from Muslims? They are adhering to their religion and they are living in their own country, and thus I believe that they should be left alone. I will not continue with my statement brothers, so care for your people. That is my advice.
Somalia deserves a chance to grow and compete with her neighbors economically and in all other areas. any person or group that opposes the will of the people of Somalia needs to be told frankly that, history has passed beneath them and their activities are irrelevant to the times we live now. militia cannot be tolerated. Ali shabaab cannot be tolerated.
I am sad about the genocide committed by those men called Al-Shabaab. They are ones who made the country crazy. I congratulate our forces, parliamentarians and president; Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
The people of Somalia are really happy with the elimination of Al-Shabaab.
It is shockin but, as much as the right steps are being taken, nothing is to be worried about and also 10 per cent cannot be allowed to ruin 90 per cent.
Since the disbelievers and the so-called international community do not want a government and other good things for Somalia, then we have to follow those who will rule the country using the book of God and Al-Shabaab has to change something from its ideology. They have to consider the ideas held by the other Somali Muslims so that we can liberate the country from the disbelievers and those who work with them.
I want to know the time the government of Siyad Bare took over the country.
Terrorism is war without borders any threat the Al-shabaab make should be taken seriously by all countries neihbouring Somalia.
I'm still hesitating to say that the young people who get involved in the matter of killing others in the name of religion. I do not believe that they have adequate capacity to think seriously for themselves. Sacrificing oneself is a good thing if many people support you but I believe that even God the creator of heaven and everything else does not at all agree with people who have no wisdom nor mercy, those who are troublesome to innocent children and the elderly, let them ask themselves those disabled and sick people who were innocent and got problems through that faith. Can they draw these people to believe in what they are defending? What influence can they use to to make the public in the world to believe that what they are doing is right. I hesitate to ask, can the God they are defending be defeated by infidels? If that is the case why haven't they been defeated throughout the world where they have been? I believe that where they are by themselves without God the Creator of heaven. Think afresh and let it work before you act. you have been encouraged, where is the one who encouraged you? He is living in hiding, he is not happy. You cannot have peace when living in a lot of doubt you cannot be happy about those you are creating problems for, innocent elderly people and children and the disabled. You will be questioned for torturing these people. Think afresh you who are influenced in the interest of others. I believe that even God wonders. Think again. I believe that even the families of the bombers cannot agree with that and they are not happy.
Alshabaab are not fight for muslim community!!Are they the secutity guards for the religion??This is to just to blackmail muslims for support.It means not fighting to show love for your religion!!!!
As aware some people, al shabab would attempte to targeting social centers,embassess, political offices and some key important positions while al shabaab expelled significant cities include key port city kismanyo . Al shabab fighters faced deep demoralised due to the missing many stronghold places that is why al shabaab will start extraordinary operations in the countries involving polictical somali fore intsance, kenya, uganda and Ethiopia.