Somalia and global terrorism: A growing connection?

The lack of internal order in Somalia has left the country vulnerable to the rise of hard-line Islamist groups, most notably al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab purports to be committed to global jihadism, has self-professed connections to al-Qaeda, and of late, has proved able to capture and control territory. Consequently, al-Shabaab and other like-minded Somali radicals are viewed as a threat to the Somali Transitional Federal Government, to Somalia?s neighbours, and to the broader international community, particularly the United States and other Western|countries. However, it is argued here that al-Shabaab?s particular rise to prominence is partly a factor of the policy follies of regional and international players in Somalia. Morever, despite the threat the organisation poses, al-Shabaab quite likely faces implosion.