The following report is now a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.
In a video titled "Inspire Believers" that was posted on the Rocket.Chat server of Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia, Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen (Al-Shabab) on January 19, 2022, an English-speaking jihadi called upon Western youth to join Al-Shabab, wage jihad, and seek martyrdom. A uniformed, armed, and masked Al-Shabab member also recited a poem urging Muslim youth in the West to join the jihad in Somalia or carry out "martyrdom-seeking" operations like the 2013 attack at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi.
To view the clip of the Al-Shabab video on MEMRI TV, click here or below.
"I Tell The Youth Everywhere... What Is Holding You Back?... You Can Still Make A Difference In The Global War Of Jihad For The Sake Of Allah"
Fighter:"By Allah, this path is one that needs patience. This is a path of the prophets, the martyrs, and the righteous. This path is not for everyone, people come and go. So I tell and I remind you. You think... Before you make hijra, you must be sure to give Allah the assurance that by Allah, you will wage jihad until you die. Because people come to jihad and leave jihad.
"By Allah, make sure that you come with sincerity, because if you come with sincerity, you either get martyrdom on this path, or Allah will give you steadfastness until the victory of Allah comes.
"I tell the youth everywhere, who have still not heard the call of jihad for the sake of Allah — what is holding you back? Come wage jihad for the sake of Allah. And I tell you guys: make hijra, it is not too late to join the caravan. It is not too late, and you can still make a difference in the global war of jihad for the sake of Allah.
"I Was Among The Youth In The West That Are Going Through Daily Life, Which Is To Wake Up, Go To School, Come Home And Study... It Is Not The Life That Allah Is Pleased With... Come Enjoy Yourself In Somalia"
"The sisters who are being raped every day, and the Muslims whose blood is being spilled everywhere in this world are one of the biggest reasons that affected me while I was in the land of disbelief, to make hijra for the sake of Allah, to win the Paradise of Allah, to become a martyr in this blessed land of Somalia, the land of jihad and ribat. To win the mercy of Allah, that is my ultimate goal.
"I was just among the youth in the West, that are going through daily life, which is to wake up and go to school, come home and study, and then the next day go to school... By Allah, I noticed that this is not the life... [This is not] the life of the ghuraba, it is not the life that Allah is pleased with.
"By Allah, we are eating good food and living a life of pleasure. Come enjoy yourself in Somalia, and live in the land of shari'a.
[...]
"Take A Martyrdom-Seeking Vest, Hit Them Hard Where They Don't Expect... [Or] Leave It All... Next Flight To Mogadishu — Who Is Missing? It Is You!"
"This is a message to the youth of the West, a caring brother sending you a friend request. Choose one of the following options that suit you the best: Option one, you take a martyrdom-seeking vest, hit them hard where they don't expect.
"Option two, you leave it all, take your whole worldly [belongings] in your backpack — what do you need more? Hijra and jihad are the right call, just like the brothers [who carried out the attack] in Westgate Mall.
"What is said is true, you are a lion of this Islamic nation, supported by the truth. You would make a fine troop, so next flight to Mogadishu, who is missing? [It] is you!"
