Al-Shabab extremists pose greatests threat in Somalia: UN

The al-Shabab extremist group remains the greatest immediate threat to peace and stability in Somalia and the region, especially Kenya, UN experts said in a report. Despite ongoing efforts by Somali and international forces to curb operations by al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, “the group’s ability to carry out complex, asymmetric attacks in Somalia remains undiminished,” the experts said. They said the threat comes not only from al-Shabab’s ability to strike — including within the capital, Mogadishu, where it attempted to assassinate the president on March 18 — but from its sophisticated extortion operations, forced recruitment and effective propaganda machine. The UN Security Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to extend authorisation for the African Union’s support.