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Leslie Lefkow, senior researcher and Horn of Africa team leader for Human Rights Watch’s Africa Division, discusses the recent history of conflict in Somalia, the rise of al Shabaab, the recent bombing attacks in Uganda, claimed by al Shabaab as retaliation against Uganda for participating in the African Union military force in Somalia, the humanitarian crisis, the American government’s suspension of food aid, and the blowback caused by U.S. intervention there.

MP3 here. (20:32)

Leslie Lefkow is senior researcher and Horn of Africa team leader for Human Rights Watch’s Africa Division. She has specialized expertise in investigating abuses in armed conflict, humanitarian crises, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa. She has conducted investigations for Human Rights Watch in Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Before joining Human Rights Watch, she worked for humanitarian organizations in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone. Lefkow is a graduate of Columbia Law School and Bryn Mawr College.