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A10 N INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011

Somalia’s Insurgents EmbraceTHURSDAY, Twitter DECEMBER 15, 2011 as a Weapon

By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN , — Think of it as the Battle of the Tweets. ’s powerful Islamist in- surgents, the Shabab, best known for chopping off hands and starv- ing their own people, just opened a Twitter account, and in the past week they have been writing up a storm, bragging about recent at- tacks and taunting their enemies. “Your inexperienced boys flee from confrontation & flinch in the face of death,” the Shabab wrote in a post to the Kenyan Army. It is an odd, almost downright hypocritical move from brutal militants in one of world’s most broken-down countries, where millions of people do not have enough food to eat, let alone a laptop. The Shabab have vehe- mently rejected Western prac- tices — banning Western music, movies, haircuts and bras, and even blocking Western aid for famine victims, all in the name of their brand of puritanical Islam — only to embrace Twitter, one of the icons of a modern, networked society. On top of that, the Shabab MOHAMED SHEIKH NOR/ASSOCIATED PRESS clearly have their hands full right The Shabab’s fighters are waging a war against Somalia’s interim government and peacekeepers. now, facing thousands of African Union peacekeepers, the Kenyan bab wrote. “Sure your comments lost only 10. African Union offi- statements. He added that the military, the Ethiopian military will invite derision but try to cials later conceded that the Sha- carefully composed e-mails and and the occasional American muster (or feign) courage at bab had been correct. the Twitter account, which began drone strike all at the same time. least.” Somalia’s TheInsurgents man behind the e-mails EmbraceDec. 7, were part of a reinvigorat- But terrorism experts say that Few Somalia hands are sur- and possibly the Twitter posts ed Shabab effort to burnish their Twitter terrorism is part of an prised by all this. The Shabab calls himself Sheik Yoonis, which public image. emerging trend and that several may be bloodthirsty, andTwitter in the is probably as a nom a de guerre.Weapon He Shabab fighters recently held a other Qaeda franchises — a few areas they control — and they has respondedby Jeffrey toGettleman written ques- quiz show for children. (The years ago the Shabab pledged al- still control many — they have tions from The New York Times prizes were grenades and an legiance to Al Qaeda — are in- yanked out gold teeth, beheaded and during a few rare telephone AK-47.) In October, Shabab lead- creasingly using social media like NAIROBI,shopkeepers, Kenya sawed — off Think arms ofand it asinterviews the Battle of spoke the Tweets. with a clipped ers invited a masked Qaeda emis- Facebook, MySpace, YouTube stoned adulterers. Yet, at the sary to hand out dates and sacks and Twitter. The Qaeda branch in British accent. same time, they have shown their of rice to famine victims. And just has proved especially Somalia’s powerful Islamist insurgents,The Shabab the Shabab, news releases best known are for chopping off hands and starving technical skills, making powerful this week the Shabab announced adept at disseminating teachings their own people, just opened a Twitterwritten account, in colloquial, and in theoften past clever, week they have been writing up a storm, suicide bombs and roadside ex- English, like this warning to the opening of a new “War Statis- and commentary through several braggingplosives. Theyabout also recent have attacks a geeky and taunting their enemies. different social media networks. peacekeepers from Burundi: tics Office,” clearly an attempt to side, showcasing their work convey a modicum of profession- “Social media has helped ter- “You now have a choice to make. through slick propaganda videos, alism. rorist groups recruit individuals, Web sites and digital chat rooms. fund-raise and distribute propa- ERITREA But few Somalis are fooled. Beyond that — and quite YEMEN The Shabab’s policies are imper- ganda more efficiently than they frightening to many American of- have in the past,” said Seth G. Gulf of Aden iling what matters most — sur- ficials — is the fact that educated DJIBOUTI vival. Last month, with a famine Jones, a political scientist at the Westerners are clearly working RAND Corporation. still stalking parts of southern So- for the Shabab. Several Somali- SOMALIA For the Shabab, this often malia, the Shabab shut down 16 have killed them- more aid groups, which many aid translates into pithy postings, selves as suicide bombers, and like “Europe was in darkness officials said was a surefire way even non-Somali Westerners, in- to slowly kill thousands. Ever when Islam made advances in cluding one man from Alabama, physics, Maths, astronomy, archi- since the famine swept across are serving as battlefield com- Mogadishu southern Somalia this summer, tecture, etc. before passing on the manders. torch,” and sarcastic jabs at the KENYA the Shabab have been blocking Of course, it is impossible to food deliveries, diverting river Kenyan Army. Kenya’s military know who exactly is operating Indian spokesman, Maj. Emmanuel Ocean water from starving farmers to the Twitter account, HSMPress, Nairobi their friends and even forcibly Chirchir, is also a loquacious writ- which refers to the Harakat al- warehousing sick people in their er of posts, and the result is noth- Shabab al-Mujahedeen, or Move- 300 MILES own displaced persons camps. ing short of a full-on Twitter war. ment of Holy Warrior Youth, the THE NEW YORK TIMES Tens of thousands have al- After Major Chirchir wrote Shabab’s full name. But African that the Shabab might be trans- Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, ready starved, and many Somalis Union and Western officials have has been hit by fierce fighting. porting weapons on donkeys and said the account is legitimate, are now cheering on the Kenyan that “any large concentration and HSMPress recently used and Ethiopian troops, traditional- and movement of loaded donkeys Twitter to publish the identifica- ly mistrusted as meddling out- will be considered as Al Shabaab tion cards of several missing Afri- Strict Islamists see the siders, who recently invaded So- activity,” the Shabab responded: can Union peacekeepers, pre- advantage of a malia to push the Shabab out of “Like bombing donkeys, you sumably killed in battle. On border areas. mean! Your eccentric battle Wednesday, the African Union modern megaphone. On the streets of Mogadishu, a strategy has got animal rights confirmed that the cards were shot-up city that has been sus- groups quite concerned, Major.” authentic. pended in 20 years of civil war Major Chirchir fired back, The Twitter account is linked to and anarchy, few people have “Life has better to offer than Either you call for the immediate ever heard of Twitter. an e-mail account operated by withdrawal of your troops from stonning innocent girl,” a refer- the Shabab “Press Office” that “Is Twitter some sort of artil- our country or you shall receive ence to the Shabab’s penchant for routinely provides detailed — lery that the Shabab is going to the bodies of your remaining harsh Islamic punishments like though slanted — information fire?” asked Muktar Abdi, a taxi sons delivered to you in bags. stoning. about the continuing combat be- driver. He said he had heard The Shabab have teased Major tween the Shabab and the Afri- Think long. Think hard.” something like that on the radio. Chirchir for his spelling mistakes can Union peacekeepers. Some- Afyare Elmi, a Somali political It is clear that the Shabab, by and have tossed around some times, the Shabab’s information scientist teaching at Qatar Uni- posting comments in English, are SAT-quality words. is more truthful than the African versity, said the Shabab had a trying to appeal to people outside “Stop prevaricating & say what Union’s, as was the case during more coherent communication Somalia. And it may be working. you really think, Major!” the Sha- an intense recent battle in Soma- strategy than the Transitional As of Wednesday afternoon, lia’s capital, Mogadishu, in which Federal Government of Somalia, the Shabab Twitter account had Mohammed Ibrahim contributed the Shabab claimed to have killed a weak and fractured entity that 3,186 followers. And true to their reporting from Mogadishu, Soma- scores of peacekeepers, while the controls very little territory and guerrilla spirit, the Shabab follow lia. African Union initially said it had often contradicts itself in public no one. “Your inexperienced boys flee from confrontation & flinch in the face of death,” the Shabab wrote in a post to the Kenyan Army.

It is an odd, almost downright hypocritical move from brutal militants in one of world’s most broken- down countries, where millions of people do not have enough food to eat, let alone a laptop. The Shabab have vehemently rejected Western practices — banning Western music, movies, haircuts and bras, and even blocking Western aid for famine victims, all in the name of their brand of puritanical Islam — only to embrace Twitter, one of the icons of a modern, networked society.

On top of that, the Shabab clearly have their hands full right now, facing thousands of African Union peacekeepers, the Kenyan military, the Ethiopian military and the occasional American drone strike all at the same time.

But terrorism experts say that Twitter terrorism is part of an emerging trend and that several other Qae- da franchises — a few years ago the Shabab pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda — are increasingly using social media like Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Twitter. The Qaeda branch in Yemen has proved especially adept at disseminating teachings and commentary through several different social media networks.

“Social media has helped terrorist groups recruit individuals, fund-raise and distribute propaganda more efficiently than they have in the past,” said Seth G. Jones, a political scientist at the RAND Corporation.

For the Shabab, this often translates into pithy postings, like “Europe was in darkness when Islam made advances in physics, Maths, astronomy, architecture, etc. before passing on the torch,” and sarcas- tic jabs at the Kenyan Army. Kenya’s military spokesman, Maj. Emmanuel Chirchir, is also a loquacious writer of posts, and the result is nothing short of a full-on Twitter war.

After Major Chirchir wrote that the Shabab might be transporting weapons on donkeys and that “any large concentration and movement of loaded donkeys will be considered as Al Shabaab activity,” the Shabab responded: “Like bombing donkeys, you mean! Your eccentric battle strategy has got animal rights groups quite concerned, Major.”

Major Chirchir fired back, “Life has better to offer than stonning innocent girl,” a reference to the Shabab’s penchant for harsh Islamic punishments like stoning.

The Shabab have teased Major Chirchir for his spelling mistakes and have tossed around some SAT- quality words.

“Stop prevaricating & say what you really think, Major!” the Shabab wrote. “Sure your comments will invite derision but try to muster (or feign) courage at least.”

Few Somalia hands are surprised by all this. The Shabab may be bloodthirsty, and in the areas they control — and they still control many — they have yanked out gold teeth, beheaded shopkeepers, sawed off arms and stoned adulterers. Yet, at the same time, they have shown their technical skills, making powerful suicide bombs and roadside explosives. They also have a geeky side, showcasing their work through slick propaganda videos, Web sites and digital chat rooms. Nxxx,2011-12-15,A,010,Bs-BW,E1

A10 N THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011 Somalia’s Insurgents Embrace Twitter as a Weapon

By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN NAIROBI, Kenya — Think of it as the Battle of the Tweets. Somalia’s powerful Islamist in- surgents, the Shabab, best known for chopping off hands and starv- ing their own people, just opened a Twitter account, and in the past week they have been writing up a storm, bragging about recent at- tacks and taunting their enemies. “Your inexperienced boys flee from confrontation & flinch in the face of death,” the Shabab wrote in a post to the Kenyan Army. It is an odd, almost downright hypocritical move from brutal militants in one of world’s most broken-down countries, where millions of people do not have enough food to eat, let alone a laptop. The Shabab have vehe- mently rejected Western prac- tices — banning Western music, movies, haircuts and bras, and even blocking Western aid for famine victims, all in the name of their brand of puritanical Islam — only to embrace Twitter, one of the icons of a modern, networked society. On top of that, the Shabab MOHAMED SHEIKH NOR/ASSOCIATED PRESS clearly have their hands full right The Shabab’s fighters are waging a war against Somalia’s interim government and peacekeepers. now, facing thousands of African Beyond that — and quite frightening to many American officials — is the fact that educated West- Union peacekeepers, the Kenyan bab wrote. “Sure your comments ernerslost onlyare clearly 10. African working Unionfor the Shabab. offi- statements.Several Somali-Americans He added have that killed the themselves as suicide military, the Ethiopian military will invite derision but try to bombers,cials later and conceded even non-Somali that the Westerners, Sha- carefully including one composed man from e-mails Alabama, and are serving as battlefield and the occasional American muster (or feign) courage at commanders.bab had been correct. the Twitter account, which began drone strike all at the same time. least.” The man behind the e-mails Dec. 7, were part of a reinvigorat- But terrorism experts say that Few Somalia hands are sur- andOf possiblycourse, it is the impossible Twitter to postsknow whoed exactly Shabab is operating effort to the burnish Twitter theiraccount, HSMPress, which Twitter terrorism is part of an prised by all this. The Shabab referscalls tohimself the Harakat Sheik al-Shabab Yoonis, al-Mujahedeen,which public or image. Movement of Holy Warrior Youth, the Shabab’s full emerging trend and that several may be bloodthirsty, and in the name.is probably But African a nom Union de andguerre. Western He officialsShabab have saidfighters the account recently is legitimate, held a and HSMPress re- other Qaeda franchises — a few areas they control — and they centlyhas respondedused Twitter toto publish written the ques- identificationquiz cards show of several for children. missing African (The Union peacekeepers, years ago the Shabab pledged al- still control many — they have presumablytions from killed The in New battle. York On Wednesday, Times prizes the African were Union grenades confirmed and that the an cards were authentic. legiance to Al Qaeda — are in- yanked out gold teeth, beheaded and during a few rare telephone AK-47.) In October, Shabab lead- creasingly using social media like shopkeepers, sawed off arms and interviews spoke with a clipped ers invited a masked Qaeda emis- Facebook, MySpace, YouTube The Twitter account is linked to an e-mail account operated by the Shabab “Press Office” that rou- stoned adulterers. Yet, at the sary to hand out dates and sacks and Twitter. The Qaeda branch in tinelyBritish provides accent. detailed — though slanted — information about the continuing combat between the same time, they have shown their of rice to famine victims. And just Yemen has proved especially ShababThe andShabab the African news Union releases peacekeepers. are Sometimes, the Shabab’s information is more truthful than technical skills, making powerful this week the Shabab announced adept at disseminating teachings thewritten African in Union’s, colloquial, as was often the clever,case during an intense recent battle in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, in suicide bombs and roadside ex- whichEnglish, the Shabab like claimed this warning to have killed to scoresthe openingof peacekeepers, of a new while “War the Statis-African Union initially said it and commentary through several plosives. They also have a geeky different social media networks. hadpeacekeepers lost only 10. African from Union Burundi: officials latertics conceded Office,” that clearly the Shabab an attempt had been to correct. side, showcasing their work “You now have a choice to make. convey a modicum of profession- “Social media has helped ter- through slick propaganda videos, alism. The man behind the e-mails and possibly the Twit- rorist groups recruit individuals, Web sites and digital chat rooms. ERITREA terBut posts few calls Somalis himself areSheik fooled.Yoonis, which is probably a fund-raise and distribute propa- Beyond that — and quite YEMEN Thenom Shabab’s de guerre. policies He has responded are imper- to written questions from ganda more efficiently than they frightening to many American of- have in the past,” said Seth G. Gulf of Aden ilingThe whatNew York matters Times mostand during — sur- a few rare telephone inter- ficials — is the fact that educated DJIBOUTI vival. Last month, with a famine Jones, a political scientist at the Westerners are clearly working views spoke with a clipped British accent. RAND Corporation. still stalking parts of southern So- for the Shabab. Several Somali- SOMALIA For the Shabab, this often malia, The the Shabab Shabab news shut releases down are 16 written in colloquial, Americans have killed them- ETHIOPIA more aid groups, which many aid translates into pithy postings, selves as suicide bombers, and often clever, English, like this warning to peacekeepers like “Europe was in darkness officialsfrom Burundi: said was “You a now surefire have a waychoice to make. Either you even non-Somali Westerners, in- to slowly kill thousands. Ever when Islam made advances in cluding one man from Alabama, call for the immediate withdrawal of your troops from our physics, Maths, astronomy, archi- sincecountry the or famineyou shall sweptreceive acrossthe bodies of your remaining are serving as battlefield com- Mogadishu southern Somalia this summer, tecture, etc. before passing on the manders. sons delivered to you in bags. Think long. Think hard.” torch,” and sarcastic jabs at the KENYA the Shabab have been blocking Of course, it is impossible to food deliveries, diverting river Kenyan Army. Kenya’s military know who exactly is operating Indian Afyare Elmi, a Somali political scientist teaching at Qatar Ocean water from starving farmers to spokesman, Maj. Emmanuel University, said the Shabab had a more coherent communi- the Twitter account, HSMPress, Nairobi their friends and even forcibly Chirchir, is also a loquacious writ- which refers to the Harakat al- cation strategy than the Transitional Federal Government of warehousing sick people in their er of posts, and the result is noth- Shabab al-Mujahedeen, or Move- 300 MILES Somalia, a weak and fractured entity that controls very little own displaced persons camps. ing short of a full-on Twitter war. ment of Holy Warrior Youth, the territory and often contradicts itself in public statements. He THE NEW YORK TIMES Tens of thousands have al- After Major Chirchir wrote Shabab’s full name. But African added that the carefully composed e-mails and the Twitter Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, ready starved, and many Somalis that the Shabab might be trans- Union and Western officials have account, which began Dec. 7, were part of a reinvigorated has been hit by fierce fighting. are now cheering on the Kenyan porting weapons on donkeys and said the account is legitimate, Shabab effort to burnish their public image. that “any large concentration and HSMPress recently used and Ethiopian troops, traditional- and movement of loaded donkeys Twitter to publish the identifica- ly mistrusted as meddling out- Strict Islamists see the siders,Shabab who fighters recently recently invaded held a So- quiz show for children. will be considered as Al Shabaab tion cards of several missing Afri- (The prizes were grenades and an AK-47.) In October, activity,” the Shabab responded: malia to push the Shabab out of can Union peacekeepers, pre- Shabab leaders invited a masked Qaeda emissary to hand “Like bombing donkeys, you advantage of a border areas. sumably killed in battle. On out dates and sacks of rice to famine victims. And just mean! Your eccentric battle On the streets of Mogadishu, a Wednesday, the African Union modern megaphone. this week the Shabab announced the opening of a new strategy has got animal rights confirmed that the cards were shot-up city that has been sus- groups quite concerned, Major.” pended“War Statistics in 20 years Office,” of clearly civil war an attempt to convey a authentic. modicum of professionalism. Major Chirchir fired back, The Twitter account is linked to and anarchy, few people have “Life has better to offer than Either you call for the immediate ever heard of Twitter. an e-mail account operated by withdrawal of your troops from stonning innocent girl,” a refer- the Shabab “Press Office” that “Is Twitter some sort of artil- our country or you shall receive ence to the Shabab’s penchant for routinely provides detailed — lery that the Shabab is going to the bodies of your remaining harsh Islamic punishments like though slanted — information fire?” asked Muktar Abdi, a taxi sons delivered to you in bags. stoning. about the continuing combat be- driver. He said he had heard The Shabab have teased Major tween the Shabab and the Afri- Think long. Think hard.” something like that on the radio. Chirchir for his spelling mistakes can Union peacekeepers. Some- Afyare Elmi, a Somali political It is clear that the Shabab, by and have tossed around some times, the Shabab’s information scientist teaching at Qatar Uni- posting comments in English, are SAT-quality words. is more truthful than the African versity, said the Shabab had a trying to appeal to people outside “Stop prevaricating & say what Union’s, as was the case during more coherent communication Somalia. And it may be working. you really think, Major!” the Sha- an intense recent battle in Soma- strategy than the Transitional As of Wednesday afternoon, lia’s capital, Mogadishu, in which Federal Government of Somalia, the Shabab Twitter account had Mohammed Ibrahim contributed the Shabab claimed to have killed a weak and fractured entity that 3,186 followers. And true to their reporting from Mogadishu, Soma- scores of peacekeepers, while the controls very little territory and guerrilla spirit, the Shabab follow lia. African Union initially said it had often contradicts itself in public no one. But few Somalis are fooled. The Shabab’s policies are imperiling what matters most — survival. Last month, with a famine still stalking parts of southern Somalia, the Shabab shut down 16 more aid groups, which many aid officials said was a surefire way to slowly kill thousands. Ever since the famine swept across southern Somalia this summer, the Shabab have been blocking food deliveries, diverting river water from starving farmers to their friends and even forcibly warehousing sick people in their own displaced persons camps.

Tens of thousands have already starved, and many Somalis are now cheering on the Kenyan and Ethiopian troops, traditionally mistrusted as meddling outsiders, who recently invaded Somalia to push the Shabab out of border areas.

On the streets of Mogadishu, a shot-up city that has been suspended in 20 years of civil war and anarchy, few people have ever heard of Twitter.

“Is Twitter some sort of artillery that the Shabab is going to fire?” asked Muktar Abdi, a taxi driver. He said he had heard something like that on the radio.

It is clear that the Shabab, by posting comments in English, are trying to appeal to people outside Somalia. And it may be working.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Shabab Twitter account had 3,186 followers. And true to their guer- rilla spirit, the Shabab follow no one.

Mohammed Ibrahim contributed reporting from Mogadishu, Somalia. Nxxx,2011-12-15,A,010,Bs-BW,E1

A10 N THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011 Somalia’s Insurgents Embrace Twitter as a Weapon

By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN NAIROBI, Kenya — Think of it as the Battle of the Tweets. Somalia’s powerful Islamist in- surgents, the Shabab, best known for chopping off hands and starv- ing their own people, just opened a Twitter account, and in the past week they have been writing up a storm, bragging about recent at- tacks and taunting their enemies. “Your inexperienced boys flee from confrontation & flinch in the face of death,” the Shabab wrote in a post to the Kenyan Army. It is an odd, almost downright hypocritical move from brutal militants in one of world’s most broken-down countries, where millions of people do not have enough food to eat, let alone a laptop. The Shabab have vehe- mently rejected Western prac- tices — banning Western music, movies, haircuts and bras, and even blocking Western aid for famine victims, all in the name of their brand of puritanical Islam — only to embrace Twitter, one of the icons of a modern, networked society. On top of that, the Shabab MOHAMED SHEIKH NOR/ASSOCIATED PRESS clearly have their hands full right The Shabab’s fighters are waging a war against Somalia’s interim government and peacekeepers. now, facing thousands of African Union peacekeepers, the Kenyan bab wrote. “Sure your comments lost only 10. African Union offi- statements. He added that the military, the Ethiopian military will invite derision but try to cials later conceded that the Sha- carefully composed e-mails and and the occasional American muster (or feign) courage at bab had been correct. the Twitter account, which began drone strike all at the same time. least.” The man behind the e-mails Dec. 7, were part of a reinvigorat- But terrorism experts say that Few Somalia hands are sur- and possibly the Twitter posts ed Shabab effort to burnish their Twitter terrorism is part of an prised by all this. The Shabab calls himself Sheik Yoonis, which public image. emerging trend and that several may be bloodthirsty, and in the is probably a nom de guerre. He Shabab fighters recently held a other Qaeda franchises — a few areas they control — and they has responded to written ques- quiz show for children. (The years ago the Shabab pledged al- still control many — they have tions from The New York Times prizes were grenades and an legiance to Al Qaeda — are in- yanked out gold teeth, beheaded and during a few rare telephone AK-47.) In October, Shabab lead- creasingly using social media like shopkeepers, sawed off arms and interviews spoke with a clipped ers invited a masked Qaeda emis- Facebook, MySpace, YouTube stoned adulterers. Yet, at the sary to hand out dates and sacks and Twitter. The Qaeda branch in British accent. same time, they have shown their of rice to famine victims. And just Yemen has proved especially The Shabab news releases are technical skills, making powerful this week the Shabab announced adept at disseminating teachings written in colloquial, often clever, suicide bombs and roadside ex- English, like this warning to the opening of a new “War Statis- and commentary through several plosives. They also have a geeky different social media networks. peacekeepers from Burundi: tics Office,” clearly an attempt to side, showcasing their work convey a modicum of profession- “Social media has helped ter- “You now have a choice to make. through slick propaganda videos, alism. rorist groups recruit individuals, Web sites and digital chat rooms. fund-raise and distribute propa- ERITREA But few Somalis are fooled. Beyond that — and quite YEMEN The Shabab’s policies are imper- ganda more efficiently than they frightening to many American of- have in the past,” said Seth G. Gulf of Aden iling what matters most — sur- ficials — is the fact that educated DJIBOUTI vival. Last month, with a famine Jones, a political scientist at the Westerners are clearly working RAND Corporation. still stalking parts of southern So- for the Shabab. Several Somali- SOMALIA For the Shabab, this often malia, the Shabab shut down 16 Americans have killed them- ETHIOPIA more aid groups, which many aid translates into pithy postings, selves as suicide bombers, and like “Europe was in darkness officials said was a surefire way even non-Somali Westerners, in- to slowly kill thousands. Ever when Islam made advances in cluding one man from Alabama, physics, Maths, astronomy, archi- since the famine swept across are serving as battlefield com- Mogadishu southern Somalia this summer, tecture, etc. before passing on the manders. torch,” and sarcastic jabs at the KENYA the Shabab have been blocking Of course, it is impossible to food deliveries, diverting river Kenyan Army. Kenya’s military know who exactly is operating Indian spokesman, Maj. Emmanuel Ocean water from starving farmers to the Twitter account, HSMPress, Nairobi their friends and even forcibly Chirchir, is also a loquacious writ- which refers to the Harakat al- warehousing sick people in their er of posts, and the result is noth- Shabab al-Mujahedeen, or Move- 300 MILES own displaced persons camps. ing short of a full-on Twitter war. ment of Holy Warrior Youth, the THE NEW YORK TIMES Tens of thousands have al- After Major Chirchir wrote Shabab’s full name. But African that the Shabab might be trans- Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, ready starved, and many Somalis Union and Western officials have has been hit by fierce fighting. porting weapons on donkeys and said the account is legitimate, are now cheering on the Kenyan that “any large concentration and HSMPress recently used and Ethiopian troops, traditional- and movement of loaded donkeys Twitter to publish the identifica- ly mistrusted as meddling out- will be considered as Al Shabaab tion cards of several missing Afri- Strict Islamists see the siders, who recently invaded So- activity,” the Shabab responded: can Union peacekeepers, pre- advantage of a malia to push the Shabab out of “Like bombing donkeys, you sumably killed in battle. On border areas. mean! Your eccentric battle Wednesday, the African Union modern megaphone. On the streets of Mogadishu, a strategy has got animal rights confirmed that the cards were shot-up city that has been sus- groups quite concerned, Major.” authentic. pended in 20 years of civil war Major Chirchir fired back, The Twitter account is linked to and anarchy, few people have “Life has better to offer than Either you call for the immediate ever heard of Twitter. an e-mail account operated by withdrawal of your troops from stonning innocent girl,” a refer- the Shabab “Press Office” that “Is Twitter some sort of artil- our country or you shall receive ence to the Shabab’s penchant for routinely provides detailed — lery that the Shabab is going to the bodies of your remaining harsh Islamic punishments like though slanted — information fire?” asked Muktar Abdi, a taxi sons delivered to you in bags. stoning. about the continuing combat be- driver. He said he had heard The Shabab have teased Major tween the Shabab and the Afri- Think long. Think hard.” something like that on the radio. Chirchir for his spelling mistakes can Union peacekeepers. Some- Afyare Elmi, a Somali political It is clear that the Shabab, by and have tossed around some times, the Shabab’s information scientist teaching at Qatar Uni- posting comments in English, are SAT-quality words. is more truthful than the African versity, said the Shabab had a trying to appeal to people outside “Stop prevaricating & say what Union’s, as was the case during more coherent communication Somalia. And it may be working. you really think, Major!” the Sha- an intense recent battle in Soma- strategy than the Transitional As of Wednesday afternoon, lia’s capital, Mogadishu, in which Federal Government of Somalia, the Shabab Twitter account had Mohammed Ibrahim contributed the Shabab claimed to have killed a weak and fractured entity that 3,186 followers. And true to their reporting from Mogadishu, Soma- scores of peacekeepers, while the controls very little territory and guerrilla spirit, the Shabab follow lia. African Union initially said it had often contradicts itself in public no one.