Somalia is a war-torn country where jihadist terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab are able to gain a stronghold. The Al-Qaeda-affiliated group (a faction supports ISIS)– dedicated in bringing about an Islamic State under Sharia law– overran a hotel several days ago murdering over twenty people. Among those dead include two members of parliament and three security guards, which gives a clue into one of the likely motives of the attack.

Somali President Hassan sheikh Mohamud stated, “These barbaric attacks are aimed to frighten citizens so that they do not support governance, and peace and that will never happen.” The Somali government also released news before the incident that it killed the leader of al-Shabaab’s intelligence unit and alleged architect of the Kenya Garissa University terror attack. Some might say the hotel attack was merely in retaliation or to prove to Somali officials the group’s strength; however, we know Al-Shabaab is committed to expelling ‘infidel’ influences whether it’s their own Somali government, the African Union, Kenyan and Ethiopian forces, or the West.

One specific attack that highlights Al-Shabaab’s mission for an Islamic State is the Garissa University tragedy. We all should remember in April of 2015, when the Islamic terrorist group massacred nearly 150 individuals at Garissa University in neighboring Kenya. Al-Shabaab left no doubts about their intentions in targeting Christians, during the attack they separated Muslims from Christians calling it an “operation against the infidels.” A spokesman for the terror group said Garissa was a part of Kenya’s “plan to spread their Christianity and infidelity.” (Also referenced about “the Christian government of Kenya” invading Somalia, and Kenya being “a Muslim land under colony” referring to a large number of Somalis in a region of Kenya that Somalia had disputes over.)

Some would determine the goals behind such attacks are for mere political and military reasons; however, this negates the important Islamic legal connotations behind much of Al-Shabaab’s rhetoric and strategy. For example, in late 2014 after separating Muslims from non-Muslims, Al-Shabaab murdered thirty-six quarry workers outside of Mandera, Kenya. Then afterwards stated,

“As Kenya persists in its occupation of Muslim lands, kills innocent Muslims, transgresses upon their sanctities and throws them into prisons, we, Harakat Al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, will persist to defend our land and our people from their aggression,” said Al-Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage. “We are uncompromising in our beliefs, relentless in our pursuit, ruthless against the disbelievers and we will do whatever necessary to defend our Muslim brethren suffering from Kenya’s aggression.”

Al-Shabaab blatantly targets ‘infidels’ such as Christians, prescribed in the Koran:

We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve for what they have associated with Allah of which He had not sent down [any] authority. And their refuge will be the Fire, and wretched is the residence of the wrongdoers. –Quran 3:151

And do not weaken in pursuit of the enemy. If you should be suffering – so are they suffering as you are suffering, but you expect from Allah that which they expect not. And Allah is ever Knowing and Wise. –Quran 4:104

And fight them until there is no fitnah and [until] the religion, all of it, is for Allah . And if they cease – then indeed, Allah is Seeing of what they do. –Quran 8:39

The recent Mogadishu hotel attack reaffirms that Al-Shabaab is more than just a violent group which lives off of civil unrest, but a bloodthirsty Islamic terrorist organization that seeks to eliminate ‘infidel’ influences and establish an Islamic State. Al-Shabaab and their ideology must be stopped before more people are murdered in this genocide.