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Somalia's text message insurgency | Somalia's text message insurgency |
(about 11 hours later) | |
By Mohamed Mohamed BBC Somali Section | By Mohamed Mohamed BBC Somali Section |
The name of Somalia's Islamist insurgent group al-Shabab - it means "The Lads" - may conjure images of a lovable band of rogues. | The name of Somalia's Islamist insurgent group al-Shabab - it means "The Lads" - may conjure images of a lovable band of rogues. |
But the radical militia is a fiercely secretive and ruthless organisation with alleged links to al-Qaeda. | But the radical militia is a fiercely secretive and ruthless organisation with alleged links to al-Qaeda. |
The leaders of the group - which has taken over swathes of central and southern Somalia - are unknown to their subordinates. | The leaders of the group - which has taken over swathes of central and southern Somalia - are unknown to their subordinates. |
The middle lieutenants get their orders through text messages, or phone calls from recognised voices, giving them proof the instructions are coming from the right person. | The middle lieutenants get their orders through text messages, or phone calls from recognised voices, giving them proof the instructions are coming from the right person. |
The leaders of al-Shabab are called "emirs" and they do not usually come from the region they administer. | The leaders of al-Shabab are called "emirs" and they do not usually come from the region they administer. |
The emirs are said to use text messaging systems daily. The mid-ranking emirs and foot soldiers are given prepaid phone cards to carry out their day-to-day operations. | The emirs are said to use text messaging systems daily. The mid-ranking emirs and foot soldiers are given prepaid phone cards to carry out their day-to-day operations. |
Text messages are also used to threaten those al-Shabab believes oppose them. | Text messages are also used to threaten those al-Shabab believes oppose them. |
Anyone who ignores these warnings is likely to receive a visit from the gunmen. | Anyone who ignores these warnings is likely to receive a visit from the gunmen. |
Entertainment banned | Entertainment banned |
Al-Shabab emerged from the remnants of the Union of Islamic Courts, routed by the Ethiopian forces that invaded Somalia in 2006. | |
In areas under its control businesses must remain shut at prayer times. | |
He (suicide bomber Mursal Abdinur) was a normal young man who lived with his parents, liked football and was sociable Saed | He (suicide bomber Mursal Abdinur) was a normal young man who lived with his parents, liked football and was sociable Saed |
On public transport, men have to sit at the front, and women at the back. | On public transport, men have to sit at the front, and women at the back. |
All forms of public entertainment are forbidden, including watching films. | All forms of public entertainment are forbidden, including watching films. |
The leaders of al-Shabab want nothing to do with the clan system that is blamed for so much of Somalia's divisions and they have ambitions to spread their rule beyond Somalia's borders. | The leaders of al-Shabab want nothing to do with the clan system that is blamed for so much of Somalia's divisions and they have ambitions to spread their rule beyond Somalia's borders. |
The spokesman for al-Shabab, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow, has said publicly there are foreign fighters in his group. | The spokesman for al-Shabab, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow, has said publicly there are foreign fighters in his group. |
As well as alleged links to al-Qaeda it is said to have Arabs, Asians, other Africans and - America's FBI believes - Westerners among its ranks. | As well as alleged links to al-Qaeda it is said to have Arabs, Asians, other Africans and - America's FBI believes - Westerners among its ranks. |
These foreigners are said to be involved in training al-Shabab recruits in various aspects of guerrilla warfare, including suicide bombings and booby traps. | These foreigners are said to be involved in training al-Shabab recruits in various aspects of guerrilla warfare, including suicide bombings and booby traps. |
Severed 'Arab' hand | Severed 'Arab' hand |
In January there was a failed suicide attack against AU peacekeeping positions in Mogadishu. | In January there was a failed suicide attack against AU peacekeeping positions in Mogadishu. |
The governor of the Banaadir Region around Mogadishu, Mahamed Osman Ali, told the BBC Somali Section soon after the attack that the assailant was a foreigner, possibly of Arab extraction. | |
"We found a human hand in the wreckage of the exploded vehicle which belonged to the suicide bomber," he said. "I think it was an Arab hand." | "We found a human hand in the wreckage of the exploded vehicle which belonged to the suicide bomber," he said. "I think it was an Arab hand." |
In February, two suicide bombers from al-Shabab attacked an African Union military base in Mogadishu, killing at least 11 soldiers and injuring another 15. | In February, two suicide bombers from al-Shabab attacked an African Union military base in Mogadishu, killing at least 11 soldiers and injuring another 15. |
It was the fourth suicide attack against African peacekeepers and the deadliest. | It was the fourth suicide attack against African peacekeepers and the deadliest. |
Ahmed Sheikh-Doon blew himself up inside the peacekeepers' base | Ahmed Sheikh-Doon blew himself up inside the peacekeepers' base |
An al-Shabab spokesman told the BBC one of their bombers, Ahmed Sheikh-Doon Siidow, blew himself up in the compound of Burundian peacekeepers. | An al-Shabab spokesman told the BBC one of their bombers, Ahmed Sheikh-Doon Siidow, blew himself up in the compound of Burundian peacekeepers. |
Another bomber, Mursal Abdinur Mohamed Ali, drove a car laden with explosives into the same base - a building which was formerly home to the Somali National University. | Another bomber, Mursal Abdinur Mohamed Ali, drove a car laden with explosives into the same base - a building which was formerly home to the Somali National University. |
Mursal Abdinur was a young man in his early twenties raised in one of the oldest districts of Mogadishu, Hamar Jabjabo, and a student at one of the many madrassas in that district. | Mursal Abdinur was a young man in his early twenties raised in one of the oldest districts of Mogadishu, Hamar Jabjabo, and a student at one of the many madrassas in that district. |
Saed, who asked the BBC not to reveal his real name for security reasons, knew him. | Saed, who asked the BBC not to reveal his real name for security reasons, knew him. |
He said: "Al-Shabab recruited [Mursal Abdinur] in 2006 when they established the Salahu Din training camp in Mogadishu. | He said: "Al-Shabab recruited [Mursal Abdinur] in 2006 when they established the Salahu Din training camp in Mogadishu. |
"He was a normal young man who lived with his parents. He liked football and was sociable but when he joined al-Shabab, he became very quiet, and completely changed. | "He was a normal young man who lived with his parents. He liked football and was sociable but when he joined al-Shabab, he became very quiet, and completely changed. |
"He started dressing like Pakistani or Afghan people. I had never known him dress like that before. He sometimes used to wear military camouflage." | |
Saed said he had never thought Mursal Abdinur would kill himself and was shocked when he heard the news. | Saed said he had never thought Mursal Abdinur would kill himself and was shocked when he heard the news. |
'Hidden agenda' | 'Hidden agenda' |
The Somali transitional federal government implemented Sharia law in the country in March in an effort to drain support for the radical Islamist guerrillas. | The Somali transitional federal government implemented Sharia law in the country in March in an effort to drain support for the radical Islamist guerrillas. |
But a senior police officer in Mogadishu - who also asked the BBC to withhold his name - said the government's move would not stop the killing because al-Shabab had a "hidden agenda... to make the world unsafe". | But a senior police officer in Mogadishu - who also asked the BBC to withhold his name - said the government's move would not stop the killing because al-Shabab had a "hidden agenda... to make the world unsafe". |
The police officer said al-Shabab was led by foreigners, while some younger members of the organisation were Somalis who had spent time abroad. | The police officer said al-Shabab was led by foreigners, while some younger members of the organisation were Somalis who had spent time abroad. |
They had often been dropouts or addicts and were the most vulnerable to be used as suicide bombers, he added. | They had often been dropouts or addicts and were the most vulnerable to be used as suicide bombers, he added. |
The BBC tried to speak to members who have deserted al-Shabab, but they declined, fearing repercussions. | The BBC tried to speak to members who have deserted al-Shabab, but they declined, fearing repercussions. |
But through speaking to former al-Shabab members, the Somali police say those recruited for suicide bombings are given drugs and are barely aware of the consequences of their actions. | But through speaking to former al-Shabab members, the Somali police say those recruited for suicide bombings are given drugs and are barely aware of the consequences of their actions. |
Police also said that some al-Shabab members know little about religion and are simply brainwashed to carry out jihadist activities. | Police also said that some al-Shabab members know little about religion and are simply brainwashed to carry out jihadist activities. |
The Ethiopian troop pullout in January has left an over-stretched and understaffed African Union peacekeeping force in the capital that is now struggling to find a peace to keep. | The Ethiopian troop pullout in January has left an over-stretched and understaffed African Union peacekeeping force in the capital that is now struggling to find a peace to keep. |
As The Lads consolidate their territorial gains and menace Mogadishu, Somalia's text message insurgents have so far proved very hard to cut off. | As The Lads consolidate their territorial gains and menace Mogadishu, Somalia's text message insurgents have so far proved very hard to cut off. |
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