Al-Qaeda Affiliate Al-Shabab Releases English-Language Video Railing Against International Monetary Fund And World Bank

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Al-Shabab, Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia, released a 50-minute English-language video lambasting the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, as well as the Somali Government.

IMF And World Bank Are "Master Puppeteers Of The Global Economy"

On April 15, 2025, Al-Shabab's media arm, the Al-Kata'ib Foundation for Media Productions, released a 50-minute English-language video titled "The Deceptions of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund – The Economic Plunder."[1] The video was presented as being the first episode in a series.

The video opened with footage of the IMF headquarters in Washington, D.C., accompanied by a AI-generated narration railing against the IMF and the World Bank: "For decades, the International Monetary Fund – or IMF – and the World Bank have carefully created an image of themselves as saviors of the global economy. They have often presented themselves as champions of economic development who work tirelessly toward achieving sustainable economic growth and reducing poverty around the world. Far from being the altruistic heroes they claim to be, however, these financial institutions act as master puppeteers skillfully pulling the strings of the global economy behind the scenes and forcing nations into accepting punishing economic reforms under the guise of assistance. What they label as aid is in reality nothing more than a tool of subjugation – a means to impose their will on the world's most vulnerable – all while maintaining an aura of virtue."

The bulk of the video featured excerpts of remarks made by dozens of prominent African and Western politicians, economists, and political theorists, who have criticized the IMF and the World Bank, especially for their activities in Africa. Among these were American economist Michael Hudson, American intellectual Noam Chomsky, and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

Two thinkers in particular – American economist and Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz and Alex Gladstein – were referenced throughout the video. Excerpts taken from their respective books – "Globalization and its Discontents Revisited: Anti-Globalization in the Era of Trump" and "Hidden Repression: How the IMF and World Bank Sell Exploitation as Development – were frequently narrated in the video. The video also included QR codes which provided a "reference link" for the books.

Additionally, all women featured in photos displayed throughout the video were digitally blurred out.

IMF Debt Relief Program In Somalia Is A "Sale Of National Economic Control For A Measly Price"

While generally criticizing the IMF and the World Bank, the video also particularly accused the institutions of conspiring with the Somali Government in December 2023 to riddle the Somali People with debt and to subjugate them politically and economically to Washington's dictates. The narration stated:

"In December 2023, the apostate Government of Somalia celebrated what it called a historic triumph: the completion of the IMF's so-called debt relief program under the heavily indebted poor countries initiative, or HIPC. Apostate government officials claimed to have achieved a monumental feat, convincing the Somali people that their country was now debt free. The reality, however, was starkly different. Somalia was still mired in the IMF's classic debt trap with over 700 million dollars in outstanding debt as of December 2023. In this documentary series, we will uncover the truth behind the highly touted 4.5-billion-dollar debt relief that Somalia allegedly received. Far from being a genuine relief effort, this so-called forgiveness was nothing more than a cynical trade-off."

It added: "This was not an act of altruism but a calculated sale of national economic control for a measly price."

To make its case, the video – in a section titled "Exploitation as Development" – reviewed the history of the two institutions from their foundation in the aftermath of the Second World War. Above all, the video stressed that whole the economic policies of the institutions claim to promote global economic stability and growth, in reality they "primarily serve the interests of wealthy Western economies while often harming developing nations." This, because the institutions are the "the continuation of the colonial relationship with an economic front."

Al-Shabab Senior Commander: IMF And World Bank "Wage War Against Islamic Law"

The video also featured remarks made by senior Al-Shabab commander Mahad Warsame on the matter, who accused the institutions of "usury" and of waging a war against Islam. He said:

"In summary, the system followed by international institutions like the IMF and World Bank is designed to exploit nations and take advantages of their vulnerability. It is based on usury and predatory practices. No African country today benefits from the financial policies and programs set by these organizations. The oppression and injustice they bring to the world is compounded by their war against Islamic Law and the financial system ordained by Allah. We should never expect non-believers to bring anything beneficial to Somalia as their actions only lead to setbacks and poverty. Therefore, those who believe that the IMF and the World Bank will bring prosperity, growth, and progress to Somalia are people who do not fully understand the teachings of the Quran. They are people who fail to grasp the true nature of the unbelievers and the clear warnings that Allah Almighty has given us about them, which is that they are bloodthirsty oppressors. We must not be deceived by the lies they spread to mislead the Muslim community, such as the promises of debt relief, economic growth, and the fight against poverty. Allah the Exulted has made it clear that these claims have no basis. He, the Almighty, says in the Qur'an: 'With (good words from) their mouths they please you, but their hearts are averse to you, and most of them are rebellious and disobedient to Allah.'"

IMF And World Bank "Trap Nations In Cycles Of Debt And Dependency"

The video recounted what it called "the devasting legacy of IMF and World Bank policies in the developing world," calling special attention to resource extraction and child labor practices in Africa. It concluded, offering a preview of the next episode in the series: "But the suffering doesn't end there. Once a country becomes entrenched in debt, the IMF reappears, offering a new set of programs under the guise of debt relief. In the next episode, we will take a closer look at the IMF's debt relief program and uncover the truth behind this seemingly benevolent initiative. Is it truly an altruistic gesture aimed at helping struggling nations or is it merely a continuation of the cycle of dependency? Is it to help developing nations or is it a way to reinforce the existing structures of economic control imposed by the global financial institutions? Join us in the next episode as we explore how this approach continues to trap nations in cycles of debt and dependency."