Hussein Owliyo, Somali ambassador to Senegal, has warned young people in Somalia and Kenya of the dangers of being targeted on social networks by the militant Al Shabaab.
Addressing the audience at a social media forum at the Laico Regency Hotel, in Nairobi, on Friday, Owliyo and Ahmed Moalim, the former Somali director of National Security Intelligence, said groups such as Al Shabaab have changed their tactics of attracting more members through sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
“They can send you a friend request on Facebook, follow you on Twitter and get to know more about you. The information you post on Twitter or Facebook is never safe,” Owliyo said.
Al-Shaabab is not centralised or monolithic in its goal or agenda. Their position of power and members are from different clans with internal politics and divisions.
HumanIPO reported in March following Al Shabaab’s original Twitter account being shut down another, @HSMPress_, had been set up and is still active today.
The group has also claimed responsibility for many bombings such as numerous suicide attacks in Mogadishu and Northern Somalia, particularly targeting Somali government officials.
The group has also been reported to be responsible for the assassination of Somali peace activists, international aid workers and journalists.
