President Obama shakes hands with President Kenyatta

Much of the news coverage about President Obama's trip to meet with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has been focused on their differing opinions on the issue of gay rights. Although gay rights are a topic worthy of discussion, this trip was meant to focus on discussing combined American-Kenyan efforts against a terrorist group many Americans have never heard of. This Somalian-based group, al-Shabaab (Arabic for The Youth), was placed on the United States' Foreign Terrorist Organization list in 2008, but it was not until 2012 that the group gained widespread recognition. In February 2012, the leaders of al-Shabaab and al-Qaeda disclosed that the two groups were in fact associated; this association with such a well-known organization provided international recognition for al-Shabaab.

Al-Shabaab's goal is to establish a fundamentalist Islamic state in Somalia. In order to accomplish this, the group has attempted to create divides in Somalia and the neighboring countries of Kenya and Ethiopia by pitting the Muslims against the non-Muslims (mostly Christians). In nearly all of their killings, al-Shabaab separates those who live and die based on who can and cannot recite verses from the Qur'an.

Victims of Garissa University attack

The most deadly attack by al-Shabaab happened on April 2, with 147 left dead and 104 wounded at Garissa University in Kenya. As in previous attacks, Muslim students were mostly spared, while non-Muslims were shot or taken hostage. The group's second most deadly attack was on Kenyan Westgate Mall in 2013, with 67 dead. Al-Shabaab asserted that the attack was in retaliation of Kenya's military presence in Somalia.

Members of Al-Shabaab carry banner following Westgate Mall attack

Despite pleas by the leaders of Somalia and Kenya for their citizens to remain united against the group, al-Shabaab has been gaining numbers and is now estimated to have between 7,000 to 9,000 fighters. One method of recruitment the terrorist organization utilized was a video featuring an English rap that says, "Mortar by mortar, shell by shell, only going to stop when I send them to hell."

What is the U.S. doing to aid Kenya's fight against al-Shabaab?

The United States has supported Kenya with millions in aid and continued drone strikes. In March 2015, one drone strike conducted by the U.S. killed Adan Garar, one of the leaders of al-Shabaab. Garar is believed to have coordinated the Westgate Mall attack, making his death particularly significant to the Kenyan government.

There has been a small movement of Americans (mostly from the Twin Cities in Minnesota) to Somalia in support of al-Shabaab's cause. In order to halt Americans' ability to support al-Shabaab, restrictions on American-Somalian travel have been put in place. The U.S. government has also put up large bounties for known American al-Shabaab members.

Bounty Poster for U.S. citizens who joined Al-Shabaab's cause

As President Obama met with President Kenyatta this weekend, he praised Kenya's efforts to focus on unity in the face of terrorism, but his praise also came with a warning. Obama warned that restricting freedoms to combat terrorism could lead to an increased base of support for al-Shabaab.

Should we be concerned that al-Shabaab will take the fight to the U.S.?

No. Al-Shabaab's leaders are almost exclusively interested in defeating the Somali Federal Government to establish an Islamic state in Somalia. The group has expressed that it is not interested in global jihad, so despite al-Shabaab's ties with al-Qaeda, it has no reason to conduct any terrorist attacks in the U.S.

Sources:

http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-meets-with-ke...

http://www.nation.co.ke/news/US-fights-Al-Shabaab-...

http://time.com/3750378/al-shabaab-adan-garar-kill...

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/02/world/africa/al-shab...

http://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/al_shabaab.html