I was just about to write part 2 of my Somalia post from last week when I found this story reference a Yemeni-born foreign fighter, Rabah Abu-Qalid, dying in Mogadishu fighting this past Sunday. So here is Part 1.5.
I pondered in Part 1 why there was so little discussion of Somali-Yemeni terrorism associations in Somalia. With the rise of AQAP, I suspected there would be greater coordination between al-Shabab and Yemeni foreign fighters. Maybe Abu-Qalid is a symbol of this collaboration? Has anyone seen any more reporting on this story?
As with anything Somalia, coverage is light. However, I’m interested in any other articles discussing potential collaboration between Yemeni foreign fighters (any Middle Eastern foreign fighters) and their role in al-Shabab or other Somali groups. More to follow in part 2……
Given Harakat al-Shabab’s recent subtitling of videos in Arabic and having some of its leaders sometimes speak in Arabic, it’s surprising more Arab recruits aren’t featured, particularly in “Message to the Ummah: And Inspire the Believers.”
I see continuous outreach for Arabic speaking recruits. But, it doesn’t appear that they ever come in significant numbers. Somalia just doesn’t appear as attractive for North African and Middle Eastern recruits the way that Afghanistan or Iraq does. The foreign fighters that do come to Somalia tend to be (80%-90%) from the Somali diaspora. The Scandinavia, Canada and the U.S. took in the largest Somali populations years ago and the second generation recruits are returning from these communities.
Yes, I have seen the same thing. The possibility of racial prejudice comes to mind as a possible factor in their failure to attract many Arab fighters.
Two things:
1- In the Harmony documents, there is a reference somewhere about AQ not liking Africans.
2- Jamal al-Fadl, the informer for the Africa Bombings case, described in the court documents (and later documented in Lawrence Wright’s- The Looming Tower) how African members of AQ got paid significantly less than Arab members.
I think there’s a reference to it also in CRACKS IN THE FOUNDATION.
Perhaps there aren’t that many (?)
I don’t think there are many. Just a handful would be my guess.
Thanks also for your kind words about my piece, they’re much appreciated.
It was a great post.
I just uploaded some old AQ in Somalia early 1990s stuff which I think supports your writing.