The “Lightning” Brigade
Security Force Assistance and the Fight Against al-Shabaab
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12406972 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ido Levy (0000-0002-5349-4089, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Washington, DC, USA, corresponding author), Abdi Yusuf (0000-0002-4347-0200, Salaan Consultant Limited, Nairobi, Kenya, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2022 |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue | 12 |
| Pages | 1800-1825 |
| Publication date | 2022-03-13 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Studies in Conflict and Terrorism (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1057-610X • E-ISSN: 1521-0731 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/1057610x.2022.2045967 |
| OpenAlex | W4220687165 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
In the fight against the terrorist group al-Shabaab, the Somali National Army has suffered acute personnel, training, funding, and other difficulties that have rendered it ineffective. The U.S.-trained Danab Brigade has proven capable in breaking the ineffectiveness pattern. Drawing on over 20 interviews with Somali officials and service members, this paper analyzes U.S. security force assistance in the case of Somalia. Danab’s sound performance stems from its U.S. training and support, multi-clan ethos, and aggressive tactical style. Danab exemplifies American success in building small, aggressive, mobile partner military forces. The recent U.S. withdrawal from Somalia raises questions about Danab’s continued viability
Active duty · Aeronautics · Business · Clan · Computer security · Criminology · Ethos · Insurgency · Military personnel · National security · Political science · Politics · Service (business · Somali · Terrorism · Computer Science · Engineering · Law · Military History and Strategy · Politics and Conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Middle East · Psychology · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
| Citations per year | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Highly cited | No |