Al-Shabaab is a militant Islamist group based in Somalia. The organization emerged in the early 2000s as a radical offshoot of the Islamic Courts Union, which Ethiopian and Somali Transitional Federal Government forces ousted from power in Somalia in 2006. Al-Shabaab’s stated aim is to overthrow the Somali government and establish an Islamic state in the country.
The group’s leadership has changed over the years. Still, historically its senior leaders have included figures like Ahmed Abdi Godane, also known as Mukhtar Abu Zubayr, who was the group’s emir until his death in a U.S. airstrike in 2014. Following Godane’s death, other leaders have taken over, including Ahmad Umar, also known as Abu Ubaidah, who is believed to be the current leader of Al-Shabaab.
Al-Shabaab has been responsible for numerous attacks in Somalia and neighboring countries, targeting government officials, security forces, civilians, and international actors. The group has also carried out high-profile attacks outside of Somalia, including the Westgate shopping mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2013, which resulted in the deaths of at least 67 people.
In 2008, the United States designated Al-Shabaab as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The United Nations Security Council has also imposed sanctions on the group, including an arms embargo and targeted sanctions against specific individuals associated with Al-Shabaab. Additionally, various other countries and organizations have designated Al-Shabaab as a terrorist organization, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the African Union. These designations reflect widespread recognition of Al-Shabaab’s violent activities and its threat to regional and international security.
