User:RowanJ LP/sandbox3
 | |
Native name | وكالة شهادة الإخبارية |
|---|---|
Romanized name | Wakālat shahādat al-ikhbārīyah |
| Industry | News aggregator |
| Founded | 2010s |
| Owner | Al-Shabaab |
Shahada News Agency (Arabic: وكالة شهادة الإخبارية, romanized: Wakālat shahādat al-ikhbārīyah, Somali: Wakaalada Wararka ee Shahada) is an news agency of the terrorist organization, Al-Shabaab, and is used as the main disseminator for news in Arabic as well as English translations relating to attacks done by al-Shabaab and other operations including executions.[1]
History
[edit]Shahada News Agency was established in the early 2010s during the rise of Al-Shabaab's media presence, and released many news reports and translations through the Al-Qaeda affiliated Global Islamic Media Front platform, they reported on attacks and ambushes as well as news in Al-Shabaab controlled territory.[2] The agency would upload and share what it calls "exclusive" news of Al-Shabaab through it's website and social media platforms.[3]
Besides Al-Shabaab's media foundation for video production, Al-Kataib, Shahada News Agency is considered one of Al-Shabaab's propaganda news units with them launching accounts on Facebook, Twitter (now X), Telegram and attempts to compete against news aggregators associated with the Islamic State in the regional area of Al-Shabaab.[4] Shahada News Agency expanded their news reach further after an announcement on July 9, 2024, that it would start creating accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and telegram, and continue to work on platforms like the encrypted invite-only platform RocketChat and newly-formed Chirpwire.[5] Through Telegram, the Shahada News Agency would create Telegram bots that would give updates on posts and news on Al-Shabaab and international relations.[6]
In 2020, the United States through the Rewards For Justice Program officially recognized Shahada News Agency as Al-Shabaab's news network, and an alias of Al-Shabaab.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Al-Shabaab's Digital Expansion: A New Era of Terror Propaganda". Tactics Institute for Security and Counter-Terrorism. 2024-08-06. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
- ^ Badawy, Sophia (2020-07-22). "(Report) al-Shahada News Agency (al-Shabaab): Attacks in Somalia and Kenya During the Week and the Commander of The Somali Army Survived An Attack In Mogadishu, Somalia / Kenya". TRAC. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
- ^ Ayad, Moustafa; Harrasy, Anisa; Abdullah, Mohammed A (2022). "Al-Shabaab and the Islamic State Networks on Facebook" (PDF). Under-Moderated, Unhinged and Ubiquitous. 1 (3): 13. Retrieved 2024-11-22 – via Institute for Strategic Dialogue.
- ^ "Al-Shabaab Continues to Expand Media Operations". Africa Defense Forum. 2024-07-30. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
- ^ "Media Outlet Of Al-Shabab, Al-Qaeda's Affiliate In Somalia Launches Accounts On X, Facebook". Middle East Media Research Institute. 2024-07-16. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
- ^ "Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen's Shahada News Agency Launches Bot To Connect With Users On Telegram ". Middle East Media Research Institute. 2017-07-30. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
- ^ "Attack on Manda Bay Airfield, Kenya – Rewards For Justice". Rewards For Justice Program. Retrieved 2024-11-22.