Attachments
Dr Erin McFee1 and Mohamed Ibrahimrashid Khalif
The disengagement and reintegration of al-Shabaab militants—an al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist group that has waged an insurgency in Somalia since 2006—is a highly complex process, shaped by individual motivations, security risks, and the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs. This research brief examines key pathways to defection from the group, the role of clan and community networks, and the structural challenges of social reinsertion. By assessing existing efforts, security dynamics, and policy gaps, it provides evidence-based recommendations to strengthen group exit strategies, community reintegration efforts, and long-term stability.
Pathways to Disengagement and Reintegration
Disengagement from al-Shabaab follows distinct yet complex pathways: exposure to civilian casualties often serves as a critical breaking point, particularly when violence directly impacts defectors' own clans or communities. Many interviewees also pointed to the disconnect between the group’s stated religious principles and its actual practices, particularly the killing of innocent Muslims, clan members, and the extortion of vulnerable populations through "taxation."