Al-Shabaab is considered one of the most dangerous African terrorist organizations. Al-Shabaab is a multi-ethnic militant group in Somalia that uses many terrorist tactics in an attempt to gain control over the country of Somalia. They use many forms of terrorism which include revolutionary, dissident and nationalist ideological terrorism, as they have the motive to gain power over a territory by overthrowing the government. Al-Shabaab is suspected of having taken part in numerous terrorist attacks, including the 1998 US embassy bombings. The motive behind their violence is their goal of creating an Islamic state in Somalia, which they believe is morally justified by the beliefs ideological. A major psychological factor behind their violence is the struggle to gain power over the regions of Somalia and the death of their original leader, “Aryo”. They use his death as justification for violence against outside nations who interfere with their goal. Al-Shabaab means “The Youth” and is also considered a jihadist group. Their number is estimated at between four thousand and six thousand militants, making them a serious terrorist threat. In 2012, the US State Department opened bounties on Al-Shabaab leaders and rebels Moktar Ali Zubeyr “Godane,” Ibrahim Haji Jama, Fuad Mohamed Khalaf, Bashir Mohamed Mahamoud, and Mukhtar Robow (US State Department, 2012). Al-Shabaab said they oppose all foreigners, Israelis, America and any Western country interfering with their goals. The Al-Shabaab organization is a multi-ethnic group with Somali leaders trained by terrorist groups in Afghanistan and Iraq. The members of the group come from other local revolutionaries and dissidents...... middle of paper......ess." AMISOM. African Union Mission in Somalia, nd Web. 1 December 2013. ."Embassies of the US in bombed East Africa." History.com. A&E Television Networks, August 1998. Web. 3 December 2013. "US offers $33 million bounty on Al-Shabaab insurgents." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, June 7, 2012. Web. December 2, 2013. “US received detailed warning of embassy bombing, Egyptian officials reportedly told about plans 9 months before attack in Kenya Baltimore Sun.” , October 23, 1998. Web. 2013. .