Since the attacks of 9/11 Somalia has become the subject of renewed attention from the United States and Europe. As the archetype of a failed state, the threat it poses has been equated to that which the US faced in Afghanistan and is seen as a fertile ground for radical Islamic groups, in particular al-Qaeda. However Islam in Somalia has a distinct nature. An examination of its history leads to an understanding of the complex relationship between religion and Somali clan-based society. A closer investigation of two of the most important Islamist groups, al-Itihaad and the Council of Islamic Courts, will help to comprehend this relationship within the context of contemporary Somalia. Finally, this article analyses the role of Islam in Somalia’s new economy by focusing on the example of the remittance and telecommunication company al-Barakaat that was linked to al-Qaeda by the US after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
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