Somalia: A time for caution

The Somali al-Shabab group has claimed responsibility for two explosions that rocked the Ugandan capital Kampala, targeting innocent people watching the World Cup final. The attacks, which left at least 74 people dead, were the first by al-Shabab outside of Somalia.
Uganda and Burundi have, in the past, dismissed threats by the group, which vowed to avenge what it called "massacres" committed by Ugandan and Burundian troops as part of the 6,000-strong African Union force propping up the weak Somali government.

National vs. global agenda
Contrary to popular perception, al-Shabab is not a monolithic movement. It is comprised of several wings that espouse different worldviews. Some - perhaps the majority - have a domestic agenda. But a small minority in the upper echelons of the group, and a significant number of foreign fighters, advocate global jihad as a guiding principle.Read More