Escalation and Adaptation

Escalation and Adaptation

This report examines the security dynamics in Somalia during President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s tenure from May 2022 to May 2024, with a particular focus on the trends in Al-Shabab attacks and the effectiveness of allied operations. It provides a comprehensive...

The Islamic State in East Africa

Summary The slogan of the Islamic State is remaining and expanding (baqiya watatamadad), and at the end of July 2018, the Islamic State in East Africa could claim to be doing both; not in any dramatic way, but sufficiently to be taken seriously by other violent...

Taming the Clans: Al-Shabab’s Clan Politics

The Al-Shabab (AS) leadership was initially interested in forging an egalitarian organisation that would transform Somali society by sidelining traditional clan leaders. However, the group quickly realised that clan loyalty ran deep; rather than reforming clan...