This policy brief proposes three potential strategies to deter terrorism in the Horn of Africa: punishment, denial, and delegitimization. Al Shabab’s modus operandi will be discussed, and strategies to effectively target the group will be introduced. Delegitimizing al Shabab’s indiscriminate killing of Muslims and misuse of Islamic texts, exploiting internal leadership fissures, preventing blanket condemnations, and human rights violations in counter terrorism strategies are some of the steps counterterrorism practitioners can take to deter al Shabab terrorism in the Horn of Africa.
