Thursday, September 4, 2014

Radicalization in Kenya

The Institute for Security Studies published in September 2014 a paper titled "Radicalisation in Kenya: Recruitment to al-Shabaab and the Mombasa Republican Council" by Anneli Botha.

The goal of the paper is to determine why and how individuals join al-Shabaab and the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC).  It is based on interviews with Kenyan and Somali-Kenyan individuals associated with al-Shabaab and the MRC.  The author emphasizes that the organizations have different goals.  Al-Shabaab pursues an Islamist terrorist agenda while the MRC pursues a secessionist agenda.  He concludes that as long as Kenyans exclusively identify on an ethnic/religious basis that is perceived to be under threat, radicalization will increase.