I congratulate the Somali National Armed Forces.

On August 16, 2025, Hussein Moallim Hassan, a key figure in the al-Shabab terrorist group for over 15 years and one of its most wanted senior leaders, was killed. He played a pivotal role in the planning and execution of terrorist attacks against civilians in the central and southern regions of Somalia. The elimination of Moalim will provide the strategic impetus to the intensified campaign to degrade al-Shabab infrastructure, including its leadership.

Somalia’s security forces have vowed to step up air and ground operations to flush out al-Shabab militants in the central and southern regions of the country.

Restoring security and stability in Africa is a global imperative. Capacitating African governments to fight violence and terrorism and counter extremism and exclusivism should be national priorities. Before it is too late, governments should invest in Africa by, exchanging personnel, building common databases, joint training, joint operations, sharing of expertise, resources and experience.

I mapped the surging threat in Africa together with 25 continental experts on Africa. Together with my co-editor Dr C. Nna-Emeka Okereke, we produced the “Palgrave Handbook of Terrorism in Africa” published by Palgrave Macmillan.

This book provides the much needed and comprehensive exploration of Africa’s emergence as an epicentre for global terrorism. The meticulous country-specific and regional analysis of terrorism, unravel the intricate interplay of internal and external forces that contribute to the genesis and perpetuation of terrorist activities in Africa.

I invite researchers, practitioners, professionals, and academics working and studying national and international security, to read the book and spread the knowledge contained within it.

Rohan Gunaratna

Link to the book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-89940-9