The Red Sea has emerged as one of the major chokepoints of the 21st century. Houthis are frequently attacking commercial ships, disrupting global trade. Shipping companies are now considering the Cape of Good Hope for their safe maritime trade. These developments have drawn attention towards the ability of non-state actors to challenge regional security. Today, the whole attention of the world is on the Red Sea crisis, while on the other hand another non-state actor is strengthening its position on the opposite sides.  

In the Horn of Africa, ISIS-Somalia has maintained strong footholds. ISIS-Somalia is a splinter faction of al Qaeda’s al-Shabaab group. ISIS-Somalia is smaller than al-Shabaab but has its foot on the maritime chokepoint known as the Gulf of Aden. The Gulf of Aden links the Indian Ocean with the Red Sea and also serves as the maritime gateway to the Suez Canal. Approximately 11% of the world’s seaborne petroleum passes through this gulf. European countries, Asian states, the US, and even the Middle East rely on the Gulf of Aden. 

This article will explain whether ISIL-Somalia can extend its extremist activities into the Gulf of Aden. This article will explore how states can prevent this near-to-possible crisis and what alternatives they can use.

Could ISIS-Somalia Expand into the Maritime Domain?

Currently, ISIS-Somalia cannot become a maritime threat, but one should not forget that it works under the broader umbrella of ISIS, which is a financially strong terrorist organisation. Also, due to its strategic location on the Gulf of Aden, ISIS-Somalia is actively involved in smuggling and human trafficking. By these illegal financial routes and the support of........

© Paradigm Shift