Al-Shabaab's latest online magazine exposes weaknesses

 

Al-Shabaab's latest online magazine exposes weaknesses

By Bosire Boniface in Wajir

 

March 15, 2013

http://sabahionline.com/en_GB/articles/hoa/articles/features/2013/03/15/feature-01

 

 

The third issue of al-Shabaab's online magazine Gaidi Mtaani attempts to

depict the militant group as united and prospering, but also offers insight

into its growing weaknesses, Kenyan security analysts say.

 

Published on March 3rd in English and Swahili, the 42-page issue portrays

democracy as incompatible with Islam, interprets accidents as divine

intervention, and offers crash courses on topics ranging from mobile phone

security to making a Molotov cocktail.

 

The cover shows a photo of Sheikh Aboud Rogo Mohammed, a charismatic cleric

and supporter of al-Shabaab who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Mombasa

on August 27th, with the headline "Catalyst of Change".

 

Al-Shabaab attempts to inspire Rogo's followers in Kenya to join its ranks

by re-printing a statement the group released on the day of his killing and

a publishing a feature story only in Swahili.

 

The statement urges Kenyan Muslims to "stand united" and "take all necessary

measures to protect their religion, their honour, their property and their

lives from the enemies of Islam".

 

The story blames the Kenyan government for colluding with Western countries

in the cleric's death and legalising the killing of Muslims in the Coast

region, which has long had grievances with the central government over

development and allocation of funding.

Forging alliances to appear relevant

 

Gaidi Mtaani also goes so far as to accept an alliance between al-Shabaab

and the Kenyan secessionist group Mombasa Republican Council (MRC).

 

"By joining MRC, al-Shabaab is hoping to have a partner in crime to replace

the losses it suffered in desertions and defeats," said Coast Police Chief

Aggrey Adoli. "It may also be seeking to be hosted by the MRC."

 

Adoli told Sabahi that security forces would crack down on criminal

activities in the region, dismissing the magazine's allegations that Muslims

have been persecuted as unsubstantiated.

 

"The group is using every propaganda tool to disrupt the harmonious

co-existence of different faiths in the country, but we are alert to the

fact," he said.

 

Wilberforce Onchiri, a Nairobi-based security consultant and retired army

major, said the militants are attempting to exploit poor people who may be

persuaded by reading the magazine to engage in violence because they feel

disenfranchised.

 

"The group is targeting individuals who may be frustrated in any way . To

al-Shabaab, it does not matter whether the killing is carried in the name of

jihad or disgruntlement. Any mass killings will do just fine for them," he

told Sabahi.

 

People such as these can afford to make the home-made bombs featured in the

issue because they can be made from inexpensive and easily available

materials, Onchiri said.

 

The tutorials show that al-Shabaab no longer enjoys safe havens and cannot

conduct training sessions as easily as it used to.

 

"The bombs crash course is testimony that they do not have a place to train

[recruits] and are willing to use anyone, regardless of their motivation, to

cause instability," Onchiri said. "Their aim is to spark chaos of any kind

and claim responsibility to show that they matter and have influence. They

want to remain relevant."

 

The article about mobile phone security also indicates that the group is

feeling the pressure from security forces, he said.

Al-Shabaab's growing desperation

 

The magazine's new issue continues al-Shabaab's string of public relations

initiatives that aim to counter reports about infighting and financial

challenges that plague the group and undermine its leadership.

 

On December 26th, the Muslim Youth Centre (MYC), which claims to be

al-Shabaab recruiting arm in East Africa, released a press statement titled

"Inciting and Inspiring Jihad: MYC in 2012", in which it boasts about the

Kenyan mujahideen's supposed successes.

 

On February 18th, an unknown author who claimed links to al-Shabaab released

a document titled "Turning away from the truth won't make it disappear:

Demystifying the Abu Mansur saga". The document aims to discredit

American-born jihadist Omar Hammani, also known as Abu Mansour al-Amriki, a

former spokesman for al-Shabaab who has recently become publicly critical of

the group.

 

On February 25th, al-Shabaab's media arm al-Kataib Foundation released a

recruitment video called "Mujahideen Moments", which tried to underscore the

group's message that all is well between local and foreign jihadists.

 

The latest edition of Gaidi Mtaani also takes issue with democracy, a day

before Kenya's general elections on March 4th, making the case that

elections and the parliamentary system are incompatible with Islam.

 

Yet Sheikh Mohammed Hassan, chairman of the National Muslim Forum's Wajir

branch, said al-Shabaab is twisting the definition of democracy to suit its

purpose of terror and take advantage of those who do not know any better.

 

Hassan pointed out that al-Shabaab defines democracy as granting man

absolute power to make laws. "Owing to this, it has made him a god besides

God and a partner concerning the right of legislating for the creation," the

magazine says. "Democracy, with its parliaments and elections, is nothing

but a deception which drugs the Islamic capacities."

 

But Hassan rejected al-Shabaab's depiction of democracy. "Politics and

religion are very different," he told Sabahi. "No one is worshipped in

politics to warrant the comparison with God. People participate in electing

leaders so that they can have people to steer them to development."

Al-Shabaab lacking leadership

 

The first edition of Gaidi Mtaani, or "Terrorist on the Street", was

published in April 2012 and mocked the Kenya Defence Forces' Operation Linda

Nchi (Protect the Country) by changing the name to Operation Protect Islam.

The second edition, published in July, focused on Kismayo, the militant

group's last remaining major stronghold at that time, which it lost in

September.

 

Eight months later, al-Shabaab's waning influence has left it with little

choice but to ratchet up the propaganda, said Nairobi-based security

consultant Reuben Ngugi.

 

"This third issue is all about reacting to events rather than providing the

much needed leadership to the demoralised group," he told Sabahi.

 

The magazine's inconsistent frequency shows that al-Shabaab's military

capability has weakened and it is desperately seeking new recruits, he said.

In addition, its sustained rebuttals clearly reveal internal rifts.

 

"Where are the so called al-Shabaab leaders like [Ahmed] Godane at this

moment when they are most needed to provide [leadership]? Why are the

bigwigs delegating their roles to the foot soldiers to deliver calls to

action? It can only mean that the group lacks clear leadership," Ngugi said.

 

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