Mogadishu, SOMALIA – On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, the Somali terrorist group Al-Shabab released a lengthy propaganda video showcasing a “Special Force” graduating from the group’s “Sheikh Osama Bin Laden Training Academy.” The video, which spans over an hour, offers a rare and chilling glimpse into the group’s sophisticated propaganda machine and its ambitious regional recruitment strategy, as evidenced by the translation of the content into many languages, including Somali, English, Arabic, Amharic, Oromo, Swahili, and French.
The release of this video comes at a time when Al-Shabab has been making significant gains on the battlefield, recapturing strategic locations such as El Buur, Caad, and Ruun Nirgood from the Somali National Army (SNA) and exploiting the weaknesses and degradation of government forces. The group’s continued ability to collect taxes and generate revenue through extortion and other illicit activities, despite the government’s claims of progress in the fight against terrorism, underscores its resilience and adaptability in the face of military pressure.
The Osama Bin Laden Training Academy
The naming of the training facility as the “Sheikh Osama Bin Laden Training Academy” is a clear indication of Al-Shabab’s aspiration to be seen as a significant player in the global jihadist movement. By invoking the name of Bin Laden, Al-Shabab seeks to legitimize its own violent campaign and attract more recruits who are inspired by Al-Qaeda’s ideology and legacy.
This is particularly significant in light of the revelations that the leader of the Islamic State in Somalia (IS-S), Abdulqadir Mumin, has been appointed as the global leader of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. The fact that Somalia has become a hub for both Al-Qaeda and IS-affiliated groups underscores the country’s strategic importance in the global jihadist movement and the need for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to counter-terrorism that goes beyond military action alone.
The showcasing of the “Special Force” graduating from the Osama Bin Laden Training Academy also raises concerns about Al-Shabab’s intentions and capabilities. The group has long harbored ambitions to extend its influence beyond Somalia’s borders and establish itself as a regional power in East Africa. The graduation of a highly trained and ideologically committed cadre of fighters suggests that Al-Shabab may be preparing for more ambitious and sophisticated operations in the future, potentially targeting neighboring countries and Western interests in the region.
This is particularly worrying in the context of the SNA’s degraded capabilities and the challenges facing the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) as it attempts to hand over responsibility to the SNA. The high attrition rate and lack of effective leadership within the SNA, coupled with the planned drawdown of ATMIS forces, risk creating a security vacuum that Al-Shabab could exploit to expand its territorial control and influence.
Regional Recruitment Strategy
Perhaps the most significant aspect of Al-Shabab’s Eid al-Adha video is its translation into many languages, including Somali, English, Arabic, Amharic, Oromo, Swahili, and French. This multilingual approach reveals the group’s strategic intent to expand its recruitment efforts beyond Somalia and tap into the pool of potential fighters in East and Central Africa.
The inclusion of Amharic and Oromo, the two most widely spoken languages in Ethiopia, is particularly noteworthy, as it suggests that Al-Shabab is actively seeking to recruit from among Ethiopia’s large Muslim population. This is significant in light of the recent tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia over the latter’s military presence in Somalia and the controversial agreement between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland.
Al-Shabab has long accused the Ethiopian government of occupying Somali territory and persecuting Muslims, and has carried out attacks against Ethiopian forces in Somalia. The translation of the video into Amharic and Oromo could be seen as an attempt to exploit these grievances and attract Ethiopian recruits to Al-Shabab’s cause, potentially exacerbating the already fragile security situation in the region.
Similarly, the inclusion of Swahili, which is widely spoken in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, suggests that Al-Shabab is seeking to expand its influence and recruitment efforts in East Africa. This is particularly concerning given the group’s history of carrying out high-profile attacks in Kenya, such as the Westgate Mall attack in 2013 and the Garissa University College attack in 2015, which claimed hundreds of lives and shocked the region.
