ICC Note: Al-Shabaab terrorists are trying to establish themselves among the Somali minority in Kenya but they have had many challenges due to their new economic structure. Their terrorist organization now request regular payments in exchange for immunity from attacks to the communities, but this provides just enough for them to maintain the group and not expand like they want.

8/14/2018 Somalia (SP) – The commander of the 21,000 AU (African Union) peacekeeper force has ordered peacekeepers to permanently attach themselves with army units and operate together as a joint force. This is another effort to deal with the poor discipline, corruption and uneven performance of Somali Army units. All the AU troops are African and, while Somalis have a high opinion of themselves, it will be interesting to see how they react to daily examples of other African soldiers demonstrating superior discipline and capability. This may be a cure, or a source of fatal friction between the Somali soldiers and the peacekeepers.

Al Shabaab is also having personnel problems. Although the Islamic terror organization has established a new source of income (via providing immunity from attack in return for regular payments) this protection scheme enables al Shabaab to pay the salaries and benefits for leaders and monthly pay for full time members. Al Shabaab always takes care of its payroll because it has discovered in the past that unpaid members often just walk away.

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For interviews with Nathan Johnson, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected].