Drones, Financing and Al Shabaab: An East African Terror Trifecta

• In Event: Drones on Terrorism

Abstract

Within the eight short years of its existence, Al Shabaab has evolved from a young militia arm of a Somali nationalist growth to a transnational criminal and terrorist organization with an elaborate financing structure similar to those maintained by established and sophisticated drug trafficking organizations. Despite considerable pressure from international counterterrorism forces, including drone attacks by US forces, the group has proved itself capable of competitively adapting from a local terror group to a transnational criminal organization in order to evade destruction. One of its strongest traits is its diversified revenue streams, drawing operational funds from protection racks, wildlife poaching, trade based money laundering. This research will explore Shabaab financing through a systematic analysis of the literature and US criminal cases in order to identify patterns and variables in funding methods that may have enabled the group to sustain operations over a ten year period. Investigators will employ the use of structured analytic techniques to include post-mortem analysis, attack timelines and chronologies to view the incidents over time. Research findings will be presented within the context of key global events and international counterterrorism efforts for consumption by intelligence analysts and policymakers.

Authors

• Anne Walton, Analysts Compass

• Rosemary Martorana, NJ OHSP