Obama administration affirms al-Shabaab’s ties to al-Qaeda

The White House on Monday confirmed for the first time that the Somalia-based terror group al-Shabaab has operational ties to al-Qaeda. The admission came in a report detailing the current administration’s use of military force in tackling extremist groups abroad.

The new designation could impact the ongoing battle against al-Shabaab in Somalia.

President Barack Obama’s administration now says it can target al-Shabaab based on a 2001 authorization for use of military force. The law, which Congress passed following the 9/11 attack, has now extended to address other growing security threats besides al-Qaeda. The 61-page report said al-Shabaab has pledged loyalty to al-Qaeda in public statements, openly considers the United States one of its enemies, and is responsible for multiple attacks and threats against U.S. citizens and interests in East Africa.

“In short, al-Shabaab has entered the fight alongside al-Qaeda and is co-belligerent with al-Qaeda in hostilities against the United States,” the report said.

The document details the administration’s use of military force and policy framework in responding to security threats. Obama also issued a presidential memorandum to encourage future administrations to build on the report and update it at least annually.

Al-Shabaab began its insurgency in Somalia in 2006. The extremist group has launched attacks on African Union peacekeeping bases and countries that contribute to the force, including Kenya and Ethiopia.

The White House report noted the United States has conducted airstrikes and other operations against al-Shabaab in Somalia and also provided advice and assistance to Somali and African Union Mission forces (AMISOM). Anneli Botha, an anti-terrorism expert with the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, South Africa, predicted the new designation would not have “any massive impact,” since U.S. operations in Somalia began years ago.

But the U.S. military in the past limited its attacks in Somalia to specific leaders who had evident ties to al-Qaeda and in self-defense cases. Ebrahim Deen with the Afro Middle-East Center in South Africa, said the new designation would empower U.S. forces to further target the group.

“It gives them more power to reach lower and middle-level al-Shabaab members,” he said.

The AMISOM force in Somalia is shrinking as countries like Ethiopia and Kenya start to pull back their troops. Al-Shabaab in turn has stepped up attacks and regained control of several territories in the country’s central region.

“Al-Shabaab is regaining territory so the Somali government is struggling, and the help is coming from the United States,” Deen said.

Stig Jarle Hansen, author of Al-Shabaab in Somalia: The History and Ideology of a Militant Islamist Group, described the designation as a good move since al-Shabaab has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda since 2012. The extremist group has carried out localized attacks and is only globalized in encouraging lone wolf attacks, Hansen said, but the designation could help the United States better protect its interests in the region.

“The United States is scared al-Shabaab might target [its interests] in East Africa,” Hansen said. “It’s scared al-Shabaab could logistically help al-Qaeda in other places and it could morph into something else if not checked.”

While the designation will assist in combating the terror group, Deen said it also could trigger more support for al-Shabaab. Somalis could perceive the increased power of the United States as the Somali government’s attempt to put itself in “the U.S. pocket.”

“It may actually become counterproductive,” Deen said. “It may increase al-Shabaab support on the ground.”