The Widespread Disdain for Somalia’s Government

Posted: October 19th, 2017

By Bronwyn E. Bruton

Bronwyn E. Bruton is the Deputy Director of the Council's Africa Center. Previously, Bruton held an International Affairs Fellowship at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Prior to her fellowship appointment, Bruton managed the National Endowment for Democracy's multi-million dollar portfolio of small grants to local and international nongovernmental organizations operating in East and Southern Africa, and managed post-conflict political transition programs in Africa for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Despite international efforts to combat the terrorist group, al Shabaab remains a dangerous adversary capable of inflicting mass casualties, as demonstrated by Saturday’s truck bomb in Mogadishu that killed more than 320 people. U.S. strategy in Somalia has centered on targeted strikes against al Shabaab militants as well as providing support to the central government as it attempts to oust al Shabaab from Somalia. However, al Shabaab continues to endure since it works with various clans and tribes throughout the country who view the central government as a more pressing threat than the terrorist group. The Cipher Brief’s Bennett Seftel spoke with Bronwyn Bruton, Deputy Director of the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center, about how the U.S. should fashion its strategy in Somalia.

The Cipher Brief: Back in February 2016, you wrote in The Cipher Brief that “al Shabaab is heartily disliked by most Somalis,” but have also said that “al Shabaab retains a base of support among disenfranchised clans.” From where does al Shabaab receive support?

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