Perspective: Africa (Sep 2016) Perspective: Africa (Sep 2016) | Page 9

Perspective: Africa - September 2016

troops remaining to protect the Somalis.

operating checkpoints where they “tax”
residents and merchants moving through
the area.

A conference in 2008 saw the beginning of
the long journey to peace, brokered by the
UN. Parliament expanded to accommodate some of the rebel groups, and a new
offensive to take control of the southern
half of the country was launched with the
assistance of the African Union. But, while
the splinter groups from the ICU were
happy to join the government, Al-Shabaab
resisted all efforts and continue to deploy
traditional terrorism tactics (“hit-and-run”)
to keep pecking away at the young peace
of the country. Mogadishu now has a plan
to reconstruct itself, creating new housing and infrastructure and stabilizing the
country economically, despite Al-Shabaab’s
best efforts to disrupt their chances.

In March 2016, a group of males, ranging
in age from 13 years to old men, were captured by government forces. The youngest
boys explained that they had been promised an education if they fought for the
militants.
Faced with grinding poverty, groups like
Al-Shabaab prey on children as young
as 10, using their desperation to create a
better life for themselves and their families
as a recruitment tool. Militants also force
parents to give up their children, and many
families live in fear once their sons reach
fighting age. The very places families send
their children to be educated – schools at
local mosques – have become target-rich
recruitment zones for Al-Shabaab. Under
Somali law, as well as international laws
and conventions, enlisting child soldiers is
a war crime.

LATEST
Mid-August saw Somali forces, assisted by
US-led advisers, attacked an Al-Shabaab
group in southern Somalia killing several members. Al-Shabaab raise funds by

Photo: AMISOM Public Information
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