some show off their gymnastic skills to impress sheikh ali dhere. recruits might remain regular fighters, become bomb- makers or work for the amniyat, al-shabaab's elite intelligence network. but the most popular unit is the suicide brigade, and, believe it or not, there is a long waiting list; only the best recruits will be accepted. >> reporter: al-shabaab have been designated as a terrorist organization by several western nations. after losing control of four major cities, the islamists were thought to have been defeated. but they still control large parts of the country and see themselves as an alternative government. this is bulo burte, a key strategic crossing point on the shabelle river. it's an al-shabaab stronghold. it also happens to be the town where one of the westgate attackers came from. the number and identities of the attackers still remains a mystery. kenyans claim there were only four, but locals here suggest there were more, and some are even believed to have returned to somalia. >> reporter: unlike other parts of southern and cen