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Al Qaeda in East Africa×
  • Shabaab recommends black seed and honey to combat coronavirus

    Thomas Joscelyn

    News
    Apr 1, 2021

    Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, uses recent reports concerning potential problems with the AstraZeneca vaccine to present itself as a legitimate governing force.

    Shabaab recommends black seed and honey to combat coronavirus
  • Shabaab hits hotel, military base with suicide assaults

    Caleb Weiss

    News
    Aug 17, 2020

    In two days, Shabaab has launched two suicide assaults across southern Somalia. Additionally, it continues to target high-ranking government officials in a renewed assassination campaign.

    Shabaab hits hotel, military base with suicide assaults
  • Al-Qaeda’s senior leadership praises jihadists in Mali and Somalia

    Thomas Joscelyn

    News
    Jan 20, 2020

    Al-Qaeda’s senior leadership released a statement praising the jihadists in Mali and elsewhere in Western Africa for confronting the “Crusaders.” Al-Qaeda’s management team encourages them to dismantle the “French and American project” across the region.

    Al-Qaeda’s senior leadership praises jihadists in Mali and Somalia
  • Deadly raid in Kenya carried out under ‘direction’ of al-Qaeda leadership, Shabaab says

    Thomas Joscelyn

    News
    Jan 9, 2020

    Ali Mohamud Rage, a senior Shabaab official, has released a video concerning the group’s assault on the Manda Bay Airfield earlier this week. Three Americans were killed during the attack, which Rage says was “carried out under the guidance and direction” of Ayman al-Zawahiri.

    Deadly raid in Kenya carried out under ‘direction’ of al-Qaeda leadership, Shabaab says
  • Shabaab assaults Kenyan airfield used by U.S. forces

    Thomas Joscelyn

    News
    Jan 5, 2020

    Shabaab, al-Qaeda’s regional branch in East Africa, assaulted the Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya earlier today. The extent of the damage is unclear, but at least some aircraft and equipment was set ablaze.

    Shabaab assaults Kenyan airfield used by U.S. forces
  • U.S. unseals indictment against American serving as top Shabaab figure

    Thomas Joscelyn

    News
    Dec 3, 2019

    The Department of Justice has unsealed an updated indictment against Jehad Serwan Mostafa, an American who has long served as a senior figure in Shabaab. The FBI alleges that Mostafa has played a role in Shabaab’s explosives department, among other jobs. In 2011, he served as an emissary for Ayman al-Zawahiri.

    U.S. unseals indictment against American serving as top Shabaab figure
  • Shabaab says Nairobi attack carried out in accordance with Zawahiri’s guidelines

    Thomas Joscelyn

    News
    Jan 16, 2019

    Shabaab released a two-page statement saying the Jan. 15 attack at a hotel in Nairobi was conducted in accordance with Ayman al Zawahiri’s “guidelines.” The al Qaeda arm has other reasons for striking inside Kenya as well, including the government’s role in the guerrilla war in Somalia.

    Shabaab says Nairobi attack carried out in accordance with Zawahiri’s guidelines
  • US amends terror designation of Shabaab to include Kenyan ‘wing’

    Thomas Joscelyn

    News
    Jul 19, 2018

    The State Department has amended the terrorist designation of Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, to include Al-Hijra, which has served as Shabaab’s “wing” in Kenya. In the past, according to the UN, Al-Hijra has played a key role in Shabaab’s planning of terrorist attacks.

    US amends terror designation of Shabaab to include Kenyan ‘wing’
  • Shabaab ambushes AMISOM forces in southern Somalia

    Thomas Joscelyn

    Threat Matrix
    Jul 31, 2017

    The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) says that 12 Ugandan soldiers were killed in an ambush by Shabaab yesterday. The al Qaeda branch claims the casualties were much higher and a local official told the press that 24 bodies were carried away from the scene.

    Shabaab ambushes AMISOM forces in southern Somalia
  • Shabaab claims US is ‘Satan of our time,’ praises al Qaeda’s leadership

    Thomas Joscelyn

    News
    May 30, 2017

    Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in Somalia, released a nearly hour-long video celebrating al Qaeda’s legacy and promoting its war as part of the global jihad. The group also advertised its “Mohamed Atta Training Camp for Martyrdom Seekers.”

    Shabaab claims US is ‘Satan of our time,’ praises al Qaeda’s leadership
  • Shabaab’s leadership fights Islamic State’s attempted expansion in East Africa

    Thomas Joscelyn

    News
    Oct 26, 2015

    Shabaab’s leadership has actively opposed the Islamic State’s expansion in East Africa. The Islamic State has made a major push via propaganda videos to encourage defections, but only a small cadre of Shabaab fighters has switched allegiance to the “caliphate” thus far.

    Shabaab’s leadership fights Islamic State’s attempted expansion in East Africa
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  • Interactive visual: Profiles of 28 Iran-backed terrorist groups and branches in the West Bank

    Interactive visual: Profiles of 28 Iran-backed terrorist groups and branches in the West Bank

  • Profiles of 15 Iranian-backed Militias in the Middle East

    Profiles of 15 Iranian-backed Militias in the Middle East

  • Detailing Shabaab’s Leadership and Key Personnel

    Detailing Shabaab’s Leadership and Key Personnel

  • Al Qaeda leaders use Afghanistan as a safe haven

    Al Qaeda leaders use Afghanistan as a safe haven

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FDD's Long War Journal

FDD’s Long War Journal provides accurate reporting and analysis of ongoing efforts to address jihadism, conflicts between state and non-state actors, and warfare between states. This is accomplished through original reporting, including by embedded reporters, news aggregation, maps, podcasts, and other formats.

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