Article

2010-02-02 Africa Horn

Somalia's Al Shabaab to Ally With Al Qaeda

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Posted by Steve White 2010-02-02 00:00|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 Leah Farrall recently translated an organizational chart on Al Qaeda and associated groups, drawn by Abu Walid al Masri. Chart here. Explanation here.

I would guess that this announcement heralds the migration of al Shabaab from the group of circles on the bottom right to the group of circles on the bottom left. This may simply be the formal announcement of a change that's already taken place.

Posted by Pstanley 2010-02-02 02:29|| 2010-02-02 02:29|| Front Page Top

#2 Interesting, Pstanley. Especially because we've been joking here at Rantburg for several years about business-style organization charts and promotion policies.

Posted by trailing wife 2010-02-02 07:50|| 2010-02-02 07:50|| Front Page Top

#3 Nothing to do with pirates, or randsom payments, kidnapping or the like.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-02-02 07:55|| 2010-02-02 07:55|| Front Page Top

#4 al-Shabaab is the group with the American kid from Daphne, Alabama, isn't it?

Posted by Jack is Back! 2010-02-02 09:16|| 2010-02-02 09:16|| Front Page Top

#5 Farrall emphasizes today that this hasn't gone through.

I tweeted earlier today that I think I might scream if I see one more headline announcing Shabaab has joined AQ. It hasnt. It has made steps towards this goal, which shows it clearly follows the doctrine I keep harping about. But nothing has been officially sanctioned. Consider their announcement as a form of job application. AQ is still musing over it because of the situation in Somalia, and the fact that all of the groups arent unified. It may choose to weigh in to tip the balance if it thinks this will push things towards unity. But this far it has stood back and watched to see how things unfold.

Posted by Pstanley 2010-02-02 15:03|| 2010-02-02 15:03|| Front Page Top

#6 No mention at all of Ali Libi.

Posted by newc 2010-02-02 16:25|| 2010-02-02 16:25|| Front Page Top

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