Our Publications

This report explores alternative approaches to countering violent extremism in Somalia by focusing on localized clan dynamics, disengagement of Al-Shabaab members, and the limitations of purely military strategies in achieving sustainable security outcomes.}

This study examines how Kenyan communities build resilience against violent extremism, highlighting the impact of heavy-handed security responses, the role of religious cohesion, and local capacity in countering radicalisation.}

In September 2012, Somalia established a new federal government (SFG), marking a milestone after over 20 years of conflict and statelessness. ​ Widely celebrated as Somalia’s first “post-transition” government, the SFG has garnered international recognition and optimism. ​ However, despite its achievements, the SFG remains fragile, reliant on African Union troops for security, and faces challenges in extending authority beyond Mogadishu.}

The September 2013 attack on Nairobi’s Westgate Shopping Center, which left more than 70 people dead, has positioned the Somali extremist group, Al-Shabaab, firmly in the global spotlight. While some observers have interpreted the attack as a sign of “desperation,”1 others perceive it as an indication of Al-Shabaab’s reformation and resurgence under the leadership of the movement’s Amir, Ahmed Abdi aw Mohamud Godane.2 The reality is, as usual, more complex.}

In the early hours of 2 April 2015, Al-Shabaab militants raided the Garissa campus of Moi University College in northeastern Kenya, killing at least 148 and wounding 79 more, mainly students. It was the worst terrorist attack in Kenya since the bombing of the U.S. embassy by Al-Qaida in 1998, surpassing even the Westgate Shopping Mall carnage of September 2013.}

On 19 August 2019, near the southern Somali port town of Kismayo, soldiers from the Kenyan and Ethiopian armies faced off warily against one another at point blank range down the barrels of their guns. The two countries have been strategic allies for over half a century, mainly to contain a perceived common threat from Somalia.}