Al-Shabaab Statement on Jerusalem: Threat Assessment

Executive Summary

Following the United States' recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December 2017, al-Shabaab's media wing al-Kataib released a statement condemning the decision and calling for attacks against Western interests. This report analyses the statement and assesses the elevated threat level for organisations operating in East Africa.

Key aspects of the analysis include:

• Translation and analysis of al-Shabaab's official statement on Jerusalem
• Historical context of al-Shabaab's rhetoric regarding Israel and Western nations
• Assessment of the group's capability to act on threats against Western targets
• Identification of potential target categories in the East Africa region
• Comparison with previous statements and subsequent attack patterns
• Recommended security measures for international organisations

The report provides actionable intelligence for security managers and risk professionals operating in Somalia, Kenya, and the broader East African region.