By Secunder Kermani

A video has emerged that appears to provide the first visual proof that British citizens are joining the jihadist insurgency in Somalia since it allied itself to Al Qaeda.

Al Shabaab, which metes out vicious brutality across swathes of lawless Somalia, has released a propaganda video seemingly featuring a black British citizen fighting alongside them.

The video also features fighters from Sweden, the USA, Pakistan and other African countries.

With his face covered and only identified by his nom de guerre, ‘Abu Dujana’ explains in an unmistakably British accent that Al Shabaab is fighting to establish what he calls a true Islamic state, and that other Muslims in the West should follow his example in joining them.

The head of MI5 said in September that he believed a number of British citizens had travelled to Somalia to join Al Shabaab, but assuming the video is genuine, it is the first visual proof since the group allied itself to Al Qaeda in February 2010.

Analysts agree that the number of British citizens fighting with Al Shabaab is small, certainly not exceeding double figures, and the overwhelming majority of British-Somalis strongly oppose Al Shabaab. But fears remain that they could be further radicalised and return to the West to carry out attacks on targets in Europe.

In 2007 a Somali from Ealing in London blew himself up in a suicide bomb attack on Ethiopian soldiers who were at the time fighting Al Shabaab. At that stage, however, Al Shabaab enjoyed a level of popular sympathy for battling against the intensely disliked invading Ethiopian forces.

Now, as can be seen from the language used in the video, Al Shabaab is dropping any former links to Somali nationalism. Al Shabaab is fighting against the predominantly Christian African Union troops propping up the weak official government in Mogadishu.

The government includes relatively moderate Islamists and also draws support from a powerful Sufi militia that formed after Al Shabaab embarked on a campaign to destroy the shrines of local saints.

Over recent years security analysts have repeatedly warned of the increased terror threat emanating from Somalia. With the Al Qaeda weakened in Iraq and military efforts intensifying in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s tribal belt, they fear that foreign jihadists will instead flock to war-torn Somalia.

Somalia is often described as the original failed state. It has been ravaged by decades of civil war with large swathes of the country now controlled by Al Shabaab.

Al Shabaab have repeatedly called for Muslims in the West to join their ranks. Abu Mansour al-Amriki, an American born member of the group, has even released rap-style nasheeds glorifying Al Shabaab in an attempt to broaden their appeal.

Somalia is now becoming a destination of choice for would-be jihadists, particularly those from the West. A number of American citizens have been arrested for supporting Al Shabaab and attempting to travel to the country. The majority are of Somali origin but they also include Zachary Chesser, the white American convert who also pled guilty to threatening the South Park creators over their depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in the cartoon.

Al Shabaab’s appeal may lie in their power; they are one of the few Al Qaeda affiliates to control significant tracts of territory. Their slickly produced propaganda videos also appeal to aspiring so-called ‘halal rambos’, painting a romanticised picture of a band of brothers eating and praying together while fighting nobly to establish the rule of sharia.

However, the group has been accused of horrific widespread human rights abuses, including attacks on journalists, aid workers and the stoning to death of a 13 year old rape victim called Aisha.