Al-Shabaab (Mozambique)

Al-Shabaab
Leaders	Various cell leaders
Dates of operation	2015[1] – present
Headquarters	(until 2021)[2]
Active regions	Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique
Ideology	Sunni Islamism Salafism Salafi jihadism Wahabism Takfirism
Size	2,000–4,500
Part of	Islamic State's Central Africa Province (partially or completely)
Opponents	Mozambique Wagner Group
Battles and wars	Insurgency in Cabo Delgado

Al-Shabaab (Arabic: الشباب, lit. 'The Youth'), also known as Ansar al-Sunna (Arabic: أنصار السنة, transl.  'Supporters of the tradition'), Ahlu al-Sunna, Swahili Sunna,^[3] Ahlu Sunna Wal Jammah,^[4] and Mashababos,^[5] is an Islamist militant group active in Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique.^[6] The group has attacked security forces and civilians in an attempt to establish an Islamic state in the area.^[7][8][9] Ansar al-Sunna's name is similar to the name of an Iraqi Sunni insurgent group that fought against US troops between 2003 and 2007. Locals call them "al-Shabaab" but they are a separate organization from Somali Al-Shabaab.^[10] The Islamic State (IS) and outside observers have claimed that all or at least factions of the Mozambican al-Shabaab have joined the Islamic State's Central Africa Province (IS-CAP). Regardless, IS does not seem to actually control the Mozambican insurgents, although there is evidence that it has sent trainers to aid the insurgency.^[4]

History[]

The group was reportedly formed in Cabo Delgado by followers of the radical Kenyan cleric Aboud Rogo Mohammed who resettled in Mozambique following his death in 2012.^[1] The group recruited local, frustrated youth such as fishermen, petty traders, and miners who felt neglected and ignored by the Mozambican government, while considering traditional religious authorities as too close to the state.^[4] The group became increasingly violent in 2017, carrying out attacks on government and civilian targets.^[1] Though a 2019 video depicted militants professing allegiance to IS, members rarely refer to themselves as part of that group. Propaganda is seldom issued by al-Shabaab.^[11] Funding for the group is raised from illegal smuggling, religious networks, and people-traffickers.^[12]

Al-Shabaab militants were trained by ex-policemen and ex-frontier guards who had been fired and held grudges against the government. The movement also contacted other Islamist militants in East Africa, and reportedly hired extremist foreigners from Somalia, Tanzania, and Kenya. These foreign trainers acted as mercenaries, however, and aided al-Shabaab due to the pay they received from the latter.^[13] Some of the al-Shabaab militants have also journeyed abroad to receive direct training by other militant groups.^[14]

Members of al-Shabaab are reportedly mostly Mozambicans from the Mocímboa da Praia, Palma and Macomia districts, but also include foreign nationals from Tanzania and Somalia. The militants are known to speak Portuguese, the official language of Mozambique, Kimwani, the local language, and Swahili, the lingua franca language spoken in the Great Lakes region. ^[15]

Even though al-Shabaab or at least parts of it have declared loyalty to the Islamic State, the group still appears to operate mostly on its own and still uses its original names. Al-Shabaab militants were reportedly involved in major IS-CAP operations such as the Mocímboa da Praia offensive and Battle of Palma.^[5]

War crimes[]

Al-Shabaab militants have committed numerous war crimes, most importantly mass murdering civilians on numerous occasions. In addition, the group has been accused by UNICEF and Human Rights Watch of recruiting thousands of child soldiers. Some rebel fighters were reportedly as young as twelve.^[5][16]

Terrorist designation[]

The group is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.^[17]

References[]

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