Kenya’s Effort Against Al-Shabaab

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Kenya is fighting for stability and peace for itself and, its neighbors. The biggest obstacle that Kenya faces is overcoming the terrorist threat living right next door, Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahedeen. The problem is Kenya cannot do it alone, but should the international community even care?

In 2006, the militant wing of the Somali Council of Islamic Courts that took over most of southern Somalia became Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahedeen, commonly known as al-Shabaab, decided to expand their operations further away from Somalia and into other countries in the horn of Africa. Al-Shabaab controls the majority of Somalia in the south and a large piece of Mogadishu, all the way to the port of Marka. The port, which takes in food aid, was recently appropriated by the terrorist group, adding to the list of resources they can gather for their cause. Kenya seems to be of particular interest to al-Shabaab, since kidnapping tourists for ransom has proved to be a viable source of income. Most of the al-Shabaab insurgents are concentrated around strongholds held by two veteran jihadist commanders, Mukhtar Robow and Hassan Turki, both in Somalia along the Kenyan border.

Kenya has the potential to become an economic cornerstone to the region, but recent conflicts with the terrorist organization will prove to be a major setback on the continuing effort to make economic progress. Terrorist activities are also taking their toll on the country’s sustained economic growth rate, compounded by a long drought and the current global economy. It is not surprising that the tourism industry, which is the country’s second largest source of foreign exchange (de Blij, 2006), has taken a huge hit in Kenya, particularly along the coast near Somalia....

... middle of paper ...

...ance that the international community organizes its resources towards Kenya’s fight against al-Shabaab and help achieve Somalia’s stabilization.

Works Cited

de Blij, H. J. (2006). The World Today: Concepts and Regions in Geography. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing.

Kron, J., & Mohammed, I. (2010, July 10). Islamists Claim Attack in Uganda. Retrieved November 1, 2011, from New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/13/world/africa/13uganda.html

Leftie, P. (2011, November 5). Daily Nation. Retrieved November 6, 2011, from The General tasked with wiping out Al-Shabaab: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/The+General+tasked+with+wiping+out+Al+Shabaab/-/1056/1267898/-/f25a0nz/-/index.html

Mwadime, R. (2011, October 31). Kenya: Troops Will Not Leave Until Al Shabaab Is Defeated . Retrieved November 3, 2011, from All Africa: http://allafrica.com/stories/201110311883.html

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