{
  "id": 20097653,
  "title": "Targeted by al-Shabaab for defending Kenya’s ecosystems: Foundation founder gets award",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/targeted-by-al-shabaab-for-defending-kenyas-ecosystems-foundation",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-15T02:07:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mongabay",
    "slug": "mongabay",
    "url": "https://news.mongabay.com/2026/11/targeted-by-al-shabaab-for-defending-kenyas-ecosystems-foundation-founder-gets-award/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Conservation efforts in Kenya's northern coastline, encompassing Lamu and Tana River counties, often involve challenging industrial fishing and extractive industries. Raabia Hawa, an ex-journalist and Montessori teacher turned environmental defender, founded the Ulinzi Africa Foundation (Ulinzi) in 2014 to combat elephant poaching and wildlife crime. Her work has since expanded to include combating illegal bottom-trawling and empowering local communities resisting mining concessions. Operating in areas with high political insecurity, Ulinzi has faced threats, including death threats and al-Shabaab targeting Raabia. Despite these challenges, Ulinzi continues to operate with the support of volunteers. At the 2026 Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa, Raabia spoke about the difficulties of countering industrial fishing and mobilizing rural women against mining companies. She dedicated the award to her father, Abdul Kadir Hawa, who she believes played a crucial role in her success.",
  "summary": "Conservation is rarely conflict-free. On Kenya’s northern coastline, in Lamu and Tana River counties — a biodiversity hotspot where the nation’s longest river meets the Indian Ocean — the work of protecting marine and terrestrial habitats often takes a willingness to challenge industrial fishing and extractive industries. For Raabia Hawa, defending nature against these activities […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Raabia Hawa founded Ulinzi Africa Foundation in 2014 to combat elephant poaching and wildlife crime.",
    "Ulinzi faces threats, including al-Shabaab targeting Raabia for defending Kenya’s ecosystems.",
    "Raabia received the 2026 Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa, dedicating it to her father."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Protecting Kenya's northern ecosystems requires facing both industrial exploitation and militant violence, turning environmental activism into a high-stakes struggle for community survival against powerful extractive interests.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}