Al-Shabaab

They are extremely vulnerable. They are extraordinarily malleable. Undeniably, the youth of this world are commonly considered the most impressionable demographic. During this stage of life, adolescents are forming their own identity, becoming increasingly aware of the social, political, and religious world around them. It is a very impressionable stage of life. Due to their susceptibility, adolescents are often drawn to radical ideas, which grab their attention. These youths are typically impatient with the “status quo”, and desire to change some form of culture, laws, or beliefs. The country of Somalia (supported by the United Nations) knows these truths very well, through the action taken by the prominent terrorist group al-Shabaab. This group poses an undeniable threat to Somalia, and likewise, the United Nations. As al-Shabaab continues to recruit the youth of their nation for violent brutality, it is important for the United States to grasp exactly who al-Shabaab is, what their ideologies are, and where they get their support from. Then, the United States should take a close look at al-Shabaab’s past in order to determine what their future actions could
It is interesting to note that this identification given to al-Shabaab was under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This policy recognizes that al-Shabaab affiliates have truly horrific motivations. Actions taken by al-Shabaab are not inspired by money or notoriety. While claiming to be Islamic fundamentalists, the group of terrorists will shoot, bomb, and kill using any means necessary if it furthers their cause. Wahhabism describes al-Shabaab’s fundamental Islamic doctrine or religious movement. This is the back-bone of their cause. They act with an ideology of Salafi jihadism, which stems from fundamental Sunni Islam. They are