Somalia

In Somalia the President, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in a rare press confrence, has been calling on the international community to help government forces drive out foreigners who are helping Islamic militants in their offensive against his government.

Well the rebel push against the government is being spear headed by Al Shabaab with suspected links to al Qaeda and Hezb al-Islam(iya), a political group loyal to the influential cleric Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys.

On Monday Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for a suicide attack that claimed 7 lives.

So who exactly is Al Shabaab? Paul Bakibinga spoke to Professor of Global Studies at the University of Minnesota, Abdi Samatar.