Al-Shabaab Guerrillas in Somalia Proving to be Very Tech-Savvy and PR Oriented

A recent al-Shabab directive that all its members change their mobile phone numbers shows how tech-savvy the al-Qaeda-linked Somali Islamist group remains and how their communications strategy is key to their survival.

Concerned that their messages may be intercepted, the leadership has also banned members from using smart phones.

The group has long run what is regarded as a slick media machine.

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When it comes to recruiting presenters, al-Shabab is known for its attention to detail”

Even without smart phones, it has been known for its sophisticated handling ofsocial media, a reputation at odds with its regular bans on communication technology for Somali citizens.

In particular, it has made extensive use of Twitter in order to get its message across.

It has also devoted considerable resources to producing a series of promotional videos.

Diaspora appeal

Al-Shabab’s material aims to spread the group’s ideology of establishing an Islamic state in Somalia, in line with al-Qaeda’s stated ambition of setting up a global Islamic caliphate.

It wants to achieve this both by military conquest and also the conversion of souls - for which communication technology is a key tool.

Al-Shabab’s well-produced video documentaries deliver the jihadi narrative in an appealing form to Somali audiences in the diaspora...more