Publication

This paper assesses the prospects of Somalia’s military surge against Al-Shabaab, which began in March 2014. More specifically, it 1) reviews the built-in limits of the surge, 2) distinguishes Al-Shabaab from other Somalia-based rivals, and 3) explores the sources of the violent Islamic group's resilience. The paper concludes that a more politically-focused approach is required to combat Al-Shabaab -- i.e., the Somali federal government needs to implement additional reconciliation processes, promote local clan dialogue and religious education, and address lingering popular grievances.