Podcast appearances and mentions of harun maruf

For almost a month, security forces in the semi-autonomous Somali region of Puntland have been advancing deep into the mountainous hideouts of Islamic State militants. Brigadier General Ahmed Abdullahi Sheikh, a former commander of special operations for Somali army and has been following the military offensive in his home region, tells reporter Harun Maruf of VOA's Somali Service, he expects victory against the militants before the start of the holy month of Ramadan early next month.

Opposition leader Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Irro” has won breakaway Somaliland's presidential election, defeating incumbent Muse Bihi Abdi. Abdirahman Irro, candidate for the Waddani (National) party captured 63.92% of the vote, compared with Bihi's 34.81%, according to the electoral commission. A third candidate, Faysal Ali Warabe, received 0.74% of the votes. Ethiopia, Somalia, and the US embassy in Somalia were among those who congratulated the new president-elect. The international community hailed the election as “peaceful.” Musa Hassan Yousuf, chief of the Somaliland National Electoral Commission, spoke with Harun Maruf of VOA's Horn of Africa Service

Vote counting is underway in the self-declared republic of Somaliland following Wednesday's peaceful elections. In the capital Hargeisa, president Muse Bihi Abdi and main opposition leader Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullaahi Irro cast their votes early in the morning. Both have urged the citizens to vote peacefully. It could take the election committee up to five days to announce official results. Guleid Ahmed Jama is a prominent Somaliland human rights lawyer and analyst. After casting his vote in Hargeisa, he spoke to Harun Maruf of VOA's Horn of Africa Service

Somalia has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for two years, following a vote on Thursday in the General Assembly. Somalia will be joining two other African nations –Algeria and Sierra Leone - beginning in January 2025. Somalia's State Minster of Foreign Affairs, Ali Mohamed Omar, is part of the Somalia team which traveled to the US to witness the election. He spoke to VOA Somali Service reporter Harun Maruf after the vote

Somalia's largest telecommunications company has rolled out the latest high-speed internet in a country where private businesses are booming despite security and political challenges. Hormuud Company said the fifth-generation network, or 5G, is available in over 20 cities and towns including the capital Mogadishu where the launch took place on Thursday. The President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud attended the launch and praised the country's private sector -driven economy. On the line to Mogadishu, Yasin Hassan, the head of Hormuud Corporate Communications, spoke to VOA's Harun Maruf

President Biden has authorized the deployment of hundreds of American Special Operations forces to Somalia to assist the Somali government in its fight against al-Shabaab.  According to the New York Times President Biden has also authorized a Pentagon plan to step up airstrikes against al-Shabaab leadership.  This increased US military engagement in Somalia comes at a time of transition in Somalia. After years of political wrangling, Somalia's Parliament has elected a new President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who took office on May 15th. Meanwhile, the African Union's about 20,000 strong peacekeeping force in Somalia is beginning a process of winding down.  My guest today, Harun Maruf, is a veteran journalist and editor at VOA Somali Service. I kick off by asking him how news of increased US military involvement in Somalia is being received in Mogadishu and beyond. We then have an extended conversation about the security situation in Somalia today. 

Harun Maruf is a reporter and writer at VOA Africa Division with an extensive experience in working in conflict zones. He also covers security, extremism, piracy, human rights, politics and other current affairs issues. He secured the first radio interview with the late American jihadist Omar Hammami. Maruf has also reported on the emergence of pro-Islamic State militants in Somalia; the travels of Somali youth from Minnesota to Syria to fight alongside ISIS and has presented hundreds of original radio documentaries about Al-Shabab, extremism, corruption, piracy, and human rights. In addition, Maruf is the author of hundreds of articles, papers and scholarly works about Somalia and the Horn of Africa and he's frequently invited to speak on these subjects at international events, conferences, round-table discussions and town halls. Prior to VOA, Maruf worked for BBC and Associated Press as a reporter in Somalia, and as a researcher for Human Rights Watch. He holds a Master of Arts in international journalism from the City, University of London. One of the most powerful Islamic militant groups in Africa, Al-Shabaab exerts Taliban-like rule over millions in Somalia and poses a growing threat to stability in the Horn of Africa. Somalis risk retaliation or death if they oppose or fail to comply with Al-Shabaab-imposed restrictions on aspects of everyday life such as clothing, media, sports, interpersonal relations, and prayer. Inside Al-Shabaab: The Secret History of Al-Qaeda's Most Powerful Ally recounts the rise, fall, and resurgence of this overlooked terrorist organization and provides an intimate understanding of its connections with Al-Qaeda.

   Al-Shabaab is showing no signs of slowing its deadly fight against government forces in Somalia.  And Mogadishu may be forced to take on more of the fight without the help of its allies.   The Crisis Next Door host Jason Brooks talks about it with Harun Maruf, journalist for Voice of America, and co-author of the book, Inside Al-Shabaab. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Somalia continues to convulse with attacks from Islamic militant group Al-Shabaab, and despite U-S airstrikes and a military mission from neighboring African nations, there's little to suggest peace on the horizon.  The Crisis Next Door's Jason Brooks talks about the fight with Harun Maruf, journalist for Voice of America, and co-author of of the book, Inside Al-Shabaab.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harun Maruf is a reporter and writer at VOA Africa Division with an extensive experience in working in conflict zones. He also covers security, extremism, piracy, human rights, politics and other current affairs issues. He secured the first radio interview with the late American jihadist Omar Hammami. Maruf has also reported on the emergence of pro-Islamic State militants in Somalia; the travels of Somali youth from Minnesota to Syria to fight alongside ISIS and has presented hundreds of original radio documentaries about Al-Shabab, extremism, corruption, piracy, and human rights. In addition, Maruf is the author of hundreds of articles, papers and scholarly works about Somalia and the Horn of Africa and he’s frequently invited to speak on these subjects at international events, conferences, round-table discussions and town halls. Prior to VOA, Maruf worked for BBC and Associated Press as a reporter in Somalia, and as a researcher for Human Rights Watch. He holds a Master of Arts in international journalism from the City, University of London. One of the most powerful Islamic militant groups in Africa, Al-Shabaab exerts Taliban-like rule over millions in Somalia and poses a growing threat to stability in the Horn of Africa. Somalis risk retaliation or death if they oppose or fail to comply with Al-Shabaab-imposed restrictions on aspects of everyday life such as clothing, media, sports, interpersonal relations, and prayer. Inside Al-Shabaab: The Secret History of Al-Qaeda’s Most Powerful Ally recounts the rise, fall, and resurgence of this overlooked terrorist organization and provides an intimate understanding of its connections with Al-Qaeda. Drawing from interviews with former Al-Shabaab militants, including high-ranking officials, military commanders, police, and foot soldiers, authors Harun Maruf and Dan Joseph reveal the motivations of those who commit their lives to the group and its violent jihadist agenda. A wealth of sources including U.S. diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks, letters taken from the Pakistani hideout of Osama bin Laden, case files from the prosecution of American Al-Shabaab members, emails from Hillary Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state, and Al-Shabaab’s own statements and recruiting videos inform Maruf and Joseph’s investigation of the United States’ campaign against Al-Shabaab and how the 2006 U.S.-backed Ethiopian invasion of Somalia gave the group the popular support it needed to radicalize ordinary citizens and become a powerful movement.

Journalist and Russiagate critic Aaron Maté presents his dissenting analysis, what he believes is behind the investigation, and how the scandal has distracted from other urgent issues.  We hear a speech from professor Shoshana Zuboff, author of “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power.” As the Trump administration intensifies its air war in Somalia, journalist Harun Maruf, author of “Inside Al-Shabaab: The Secret History of Al-Qaeda’s Most Powerful Ally," discusses the war in Somalia and the seldom mentioned history of how the George W. Bush administration helped overthrow the only force that had brought peace to Somalia since the early 1990s.

Shaka Ssali discusses Somalia politics with Harun Maruf, VOA Somali Service Journalist, Ahmed Isse Awad, Somali Ambassador to the U.S., and with Faisal Abdi Roble, Writer and Analyst.

Shaka Ssali discusses Somalia politics with Harun Maruf, VOA Somali Service Journalist, Ahmed Isse Awad, Somali Ambassador to the U.S., and with Faisal Abdi Roble, Writer and Analyst.

Harun Maruf comes on the show to discuss jihadism in Somalia. Some of the topics covered include: What al-Shabab has been up to since the Westgate Mall attack in Kenya Background on al-Shabab’s leader Ahmad Umar and how he compares with its former leader Ahmed Abdi Godane The state of foreign fighters in Somalia The status of The Islamic State’s efforts in Somalia Links: Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) | Twitter Harun Maruf – Reporter bio – VOA News This episode also has a new #SocialMedia segment covering postings from October 24-November 1. Thanks to Haakon Jahr, Kaspars Gasuns, and Raihan Kadir for supporting the podcast! If you’d like to support the show, and get some bonus content, check out the show’s Patreon page. The podcast is produced by Karl Morand. If you have feedback you can email podcast@jihadology.net, or find us on Twitter: @JihadPod.