Al-Shabaab, a khawarij group affiliated with Al Qaeda operating in Somalia, has been known for its brutality and oppression since its emergence in 2006. Despite efforts by the Somali government and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to weaken and eliminate the group, Al-Shabaab still controls some areas of Somalia, where it imposes its extremist ideology on the population. The group has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings and mass shootings, targeting both civilians and military personnel. They have also been involved in piracy and kidnapping for ransom, which has destabilized the region’s economy and led to significant humanitarian crises. One of the ways Al-Shabaab is oppressing the people living in the areas it controls is by prohibiting education centers. The group has banned both secular and religious education and forced children to attend their own education centers where they brainwash them and teach them their crooked practices. This prohibition has led to a lack of education and a generation of children growing up with limited opportunities. The prohibition of education centers has also led to a loss of skilled professionals and a lack of infrastructure development, which has further entrenched poverty and underdevelopment in these areas. Many people are forced to flee their homes to seek education and opportunities elsewhere, leading to displacement and instability. Furthermore, Al-Shabaab has prohibited farming or restricted it, leading to famine and starvation in the areas they control. The locals who are unable to farm are forced to rely on un humanitarian aid or are displaced. This restriction on farming not only affects the livelihoods of the people but also creates a dependency on the group for basic needs. Al-Shabaab has also imposed a ban on listening to any other content apart from the content they prepare. This is to spread their propaganda and mislead the locals. By controlling the information that the locals receive, Al-Shabaab is able to maintain its grip on power and control the narrative in the areas it controls. Furthermore, the group completely took away the freedom of access to information. People living in areas they control are not allowed to listen to radio or own internet phones. This restriction isolates the people from the rest of the world and limits their ability to communicate with the outside world. This has created a situation where the people living in Al-Shabaab-controlled areas are deprived of access to information, education, and opportunities for self-improvement. They are denied the chance to engage with the world and learn about different cultures, ideas, andperspectives. The youth in the areas Al-Shabaab controls live with constant fear as they cannot assemble freely. Al-Shabaab is suspicious when two or more youth assemble as they fear popular uprisings as seen in many parts of the country. This fear has led to a sense of isolation and despair among the youth who are denied the opportunity to socialize and engage with their peers. The group has also been known to use violence and intimidation to silence dissent and opposition to its ideology. Those who speak out against the group or refuse to conform to its extremist beliefs are subjected to brutal punishments, including public executions and amputations. Al-Shabaab’s oppression of the people in the areas it controls is relentless and brutal. The group’s tactics of prohibiting education centers, restricting farming, banning access to information, and limiting the freedom of assembly are all aimed at maintaining its grip on power and control over the population. The international community must continue to support the Somali government and AMISOM in their efforts to eliminate Al-Shabaab and bring peace and stability to the country. The people living in Al-Shabaab-controlled areas deserve access to education, information, and opportunities for self-improvement. They should not have to live in fear and isolation because of the actions of a violent extremist group. The people living in Al-Shabaab-controlled areas face significant challenges, including limited access to education, information, and opportunities. However, they have shown remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. They have continued to resist the group’s oppressive tactics and have even organized themselves to resist their rule. The government and international community should support these efforts by providing resources and creating an environment where the people can speak out against the group’s oppression. The government should continue to work with the international community and other stakeholders to address the root causes of the conflict in Somalia, including poverty, unemployment, and political instability. They should also work to ensure that basic services such as education and healthcare are accessible to all citizens. The international community can provide financial, logistical, and technical support to the government in their efforts to address these challenges. Furthermore, the international community should continue to provide support to AMISOM and the Somali security forces in their efforts to weaken and eliminate Al-Shabaab. The international community should also provide support to humanitarian organizations working in the affected areas to provide aid to those affected by the conflict. In conclusion, the people living in Al-Shabaab-controlled areas deserve access to education, information, and opportunities for self-improvement. The government, international community, and other stakeholders must work together to create an environment where the people can exercise their rights and resist the group’s oppression. Only then can Somalia achieve lasting peace and stability.
Source: Somali National News Agency