A few things I noticed from that article:
"Al-Shabaab has lost control of the major cities of Somalia and are now trying to terrorize people and stop them using the Internet," the minister said. "We will not allow our citizens to be deprived of Internet access and smartphones."I found it mildly humorous that they would mention smartphones specifically, but I'm also aware that mobile access is likely the easiest way to get internet connectivity into the hands of most Somalis for the least investment. From the CIA Factbook:
Communications ::SOMALIA Telephones - main lines in use: 100,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 146 Telephones - mobile cellular: 658,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 162 Telephone system: General assessment: the public telecommunications system was almost completely destroyed or dismantled during the civil war; private companies offer limited local fixed-line service and private wireless companies offer service in most major cities while charging the lowest international rates on the continent. domestic: local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers with one company beginning to provide 3G services in late 2012.And back to our regularly scheduled CNN article:
[Al-Shabaab] had also barred foreign aid organizations from southern Somalia, describing them as Western spies and Christian crusaders.Yes, well, *ahem*, we'd never do that--those AQ dudes are way off! And I guess we're all a little guilty of cognitive disconnect here and there:
Al-Shabaab regularly uses the Internet. It has a major presence on social media, and posted the threat on its Facebook page.Oy vey.
