Browsing by Author "Yahya Abdilkadir M"

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    The Role of Religious Ideology on Radicalization: Case of Al-shabaab Terror Group
    (NDU-K, 2023) Yahya Abdilkadir M
    Worldwide, terrorism has become an increasing threat to international peace and security. As a result, the recent past has seen many international, regional, and national initiatives adopted to combat terrorism. Despite these global, regional, and state counterterrorism measures, terrorism threatens peace and security. Recent scholarship in counterterrorism is divided; on one side, some scholars contend that counterterrorism measures increase terrorism through retaliations by groups like the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab group, while others believe that it decreases the threats of terrorism. This study sought to pick up the debate by assessing the significance of religious ideology on the radicalization of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group and its subsequent terror campaigns. Religious ideologies are important in understanding a group’s identity and aim in further deducing its role in threatening peace, security, and state stability of a state such as Kenya, which borders Somalia on the east. As part of its theoretical framework, the study applied social psychology, resource mobilization, and rational choice theories that enabled it to identify challenges and opportunities in countering-ideological narratives in counter-radicalization among the Al-Shabaab. The study found that Al-Shabaab’s communication strategy features an advanced operational, tactical, and strategic level stratagem that depends heavily on religious ideology for its radicalization and recruitment programs of potential members. The study shows Islam is not a monolithic religion but has variations or denominations. Since the formation of the Islamic religion in the 6th century, several sects, many of whom have been influenced by non-Arabic cultures, have held divergent interpretations and applications of Islamic law. In the Kenyan context, the two major groups of Sunni and Shias are further divided into two divisions - the sub-sects which follow under the two central umbrellas are the Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jamaa (the party of the Sunnah who are predominantly the Sufis and the moderate Muslims) and the Wahabi Salafis. These divisions remain under the Sunni umbrella. Sunni has four schools, Hanafi, Shafi, Maliki, and Hanbali. Shia has two schools, Jaafri and Zaydi. These schools are regional and have been termed sects, aligning with the problematic movements within the Muslim divide. The study reveals that the Al-Shabaab group has exploited some religious and ideological differences. The ideological impulse used by the Al-Shabaab is impregnated with misinterpretation of scriptures drawn from the Holy Quran. It applies them selectively to justify its call for Jihadi uprising and bombing campaigns, such as the deadly Westgate Mall attack of 2013 and the Garissa University College bombing of 2015. This has meant that radicalism drawn from religions contributes majorly to the conundrum of insecurity in Kenya. The current Islamic ecology in Kenya points out that radical jihadists like Aboud Rogo or Ahmed Makaburi were extracts of the Wahhabist ideology, which for many years preached radical sermons in Mombasa Mosques, luring many youths into radical jihadist indoctrinations adopted and promoted by the Al-Shabaab. This is the foundation of contemporary radicalization and terrorism emanating from toxic religious and ideological interpretations. The study proposes several recommendations touching on good governance, capacity building of counterterrorism unit, human rights law, Islamic jurisprudence, and the need for an effective media strategy to counter the toxicity of Al-Shabaab’s radical religious, ideological narrative.