To Defeat Al Shabaab Let's Deal With Illicit Trade
I have
closely followed Kenya’s (if not America’s) so-called war on terror. I took me
to Somalia where I met AMISOM. Since the mounting of AMISOM in Somalia many
actors have spoken about “tremendous success” in contained Al Shabaab. What is
happening on the ground screams otherwise. It is common knowledge that Kenya is
not safer from the threat of Al Shabaab today than it worse before its troops
crossed the border in 2011 in pursuit of Al Shabaab – later joining AMISOM.
Appears things are worse. Prior to 2011 we had isolated incidences of
kidnapping of foreigners (tourists) in Kenyan coast, today we have frequent and
more systematic killings of Kenyans especially security officers by Al Shabaab
in various parts of the country with the worst affected being the heavily securitized
frontier region covering Garissa, Mandera and Wajir. All is not well. All is
not well. Al Shabaab remain a huge pain in Kenya’s neck just as it does Somalia
and others.
Why is
this? Because, I think, we are in a losing battle.
The best
and surest way to dealing with Al Shabaab in Somalia is, in my well measured
opinion, not bombarding but destroying an international network of organised
crime (illicit trade) from which Al Shabaab funds its activities. Until Al
Shabaab is minting millions of dollars from the robust underworld organised
crime, no levels of bombing will stop the group's operations. At best they can
only shift bases!
To Defeat Al Shabaab Let's Deal With Illicit Trade
Reviewed by Ibrahim Magara
on
July 09, 2018
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