The Somali Civil War (2009–present) (; ) is the
ongoing phase of the
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War (; ) is an List of ongoing armed conflicts, ongoing civil war that is taking place in Somalia. It grew out of resistance to the military junta which was led by Siad Barre during the 1980s. From 1988 to 1990, the Somali Armed ...
which is concentrated in southern and central
Somalia
Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...
.
It began in late January 2009 with the present conflict mainly between the forces of the
Federal Government of Somalia
The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS; , DFS; ) is the internationally recognised government of Somalia, and the longest running attempt to create a central government in Somalia since the collapse of the Somali Democratic Republic in 1991. It ...
assisted by
African Union
The African Union (AU) is a continental union of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the African Union. The b ...
peacekeeping
Peacekeeping comprises activities, especially military ones, intended to create conditions that favor lasting peace. Research generally finds that peacekeeping reduces civilian and battlefield deaths, as well as reduces the risk of renewed w ...
troops and
al-Shabaab militants who pledged allegiance to
al-Qaeda
, image = Flag of Jihad.svg
, caption = Jihadist flag, Flag used by various al-Qaeda factions
, founder = Osama bin Laden{{Assassinated, Killing of Osama bin Laden
, leaders = {{Plainlist,
* Osama bin Lad ...
during 2012.
During the
insurgency
An insurgency is a violent, armed rebellion by small, lightly armed bands who practice guerrilla warfare against a larger authority. The key descriptive feature of insurgency is its asymmetric warfare, asymmetric nature: small irregular forces ...
that followed the 2006
Ethiopian invasion of Somalia, al-Shabaab rose to prominence and made major territorial gains. Several weeks before the end of the military occupation, Islamist insurgents had seized most of the south and
Transitional Federal Government
The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) (, , ) was internationally recognized as a provisional government of the Somalia from 14 October 2004 until 20 August 2012. It was established in Nairobi, Kenya, following the Transitional National Govern ...
(TFG) was on the verge of collapse.
In early 2009, Ethiopian troops withdrew from Somalia and former
Islamic Courts Union leader
Sharif Ahmed was elected president TFG, marking a new phase of the civil war. Al-Shabaab and allied Islamist groups continued fighting against the new TFG and the
African Union
The African Union (AU) is a continental union of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the African Union. The b ...
mission (
AMISOM
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was a Multinational force formed by the African Union. The operation deployed to Somalia soon after the Islamic Courts Union was deposed by troops from Ethiopia during War in Somalia (2006–2009), ...
) throughout 2009 and 2010, weakening the frail TFG further. By 2010, al-Shabaab reached its peak operational capacity as it absorbed other factions and began embracing drastic changes in the types of attacks they utilized.
That year the group merged with
Hizbul Islam
Hizbul Islam ("Islamic Party"), also known as Hizbul Islaami, Hisbi Islam, or Hezb-ul Islam, was a Somali Islamist group formed after four Islamist groups merged to oppose the new Transitional Federal Government administration of President S ...
and also carried out the
Kampala bombings in response to Ugandan support for AMISOM.
In August 2011, al-Shabaab withdrew from
Mogadishu
Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
and lost the significant control it had established in the city since the insurgency began in 2007. While the group continues to carry out operations in the capital, the 2011 withdrawal marked the end of a strong insurgent presence.
The Kenyan invasion of southern Somalia aimed at al-Shabaab,
Operation Linda Nchi, began in October 2011.
Coinciding with Kenya's operation, the
Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) returned to Somalia in large numbers for the first time since their 2009 withdrawal.
In 2012 the
Federal Government of Somalia
The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS; , DFS; ) is the internationally recognised government of Somalia, and the longest running attempt to create a central government in Somalia since the collapse of the Somali Democratic Republic in 1991. It ...
(FGS) was formed, and it was becoming increasingly clear that a military victory would not resolve the conflict, and during that same year al-Shabaab pledged allegiance to
al-Qaeda
, image = Flag of Jihad.svg
, caption = Jihadist flag, Flag used by various al-Qaeda factions
, founder = Osama bin Laden{{Assassinated, Killing of Osama bin Laden
, leaders = {{Plainlist,
* Osama bin Lad ...
.
In 2014, ENDF troops in Somalia were formerly integrated into
AMISOM
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was a Multinational force formed by the African Union. The operation deployed to Somalia soon after the Islamic Courts Union was deposed by troops from Ethiopia during War in Somalia (2006–2009), ...
.
Despite the growing challenges, al-Shabaab still controls large swathes of territory in southern Somalia. It remains influential in many rural areas, and it now prioritizes guerrilla and terror attacks over territorial acquisitions. The
Islamic State in Somalia (ISS) and
Hizbul Islam
Hizbul Islam ("Islamic Party"), also known as Hizbul Islaami, Hisbi Islam, or Hezb-ul Islam, was a Somali Islamist group formed after four Islamist groups merged to oppose the new Transitional Federal Government administration of President S ...
have also carried out attacks against both factions. In 2013 Hizbul Islam renounced violence against the government, but as of 2023, ISS remains active in northern Somalia. In 2023, the
Las Anod conflict broke out in the northern part of Somalia between
SSC-Khatumo and the
Somaliland Army.
Background
Established in 2004, the internationally recognized
Transitional Federal Government
The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) (, , ) was internationally recognized as a provisional government of the Somalia from 14 October 2004 until 20 August 2012. It was established in Nairobi, Kenya, following the Transitional National Govern ...
's (TFG) in Somalia was waning until the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
-backed
2006 invasion by the
Ethiopian National Defense Force
The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) () is the combined military force of Ethiopia. ENDF is consisted of 10 command forces which is controlled by the Chief of General Staff.
Commanders of the Military
Supreme Commander – Taye At ...
(ENDF), which drove out the
Islamic Courts Union (ICU) from power. Following this defeat, the ICU
splintered into several different insurgent factions.
Emergence of the insurgency
In early 2007, many Somalis rallied behind an
insurgency
An insurgency is a violent, armed rebellion by small, lightly armed bands who practice guerrilla warfare against a larger authority. The key descriptive feature of insurgency is its asymmetric warfare, asymmetric nature: small irregular forces ...
which aimed to expel the Ethiopian
military occupation
Military occupation, also called belligerent occupation or simply occupation, is temporary hostile control exerted by a ruling power's military apparatus over a sovereign territory that is outside of the legal boundaries of that ruling pow ...
in
Mogadishu
Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
. The Ethiopians were caught off guard by the scale and intensity of the emerging resistance, responding with bombardments of urban areas.
Thousands of Ethiopian troops and Somalis had been killed during fierce fighting for Mogadishu.
ENDF military losses had reached unsustainable levels by the end of 2007.
In 2008 insurgent pressure intensified in the capital and across south-central Somalia, particularly in the Shabeelle, Jubba Valley, Bay, and Bakool regions. Skirmishes with ENDF/TFG forces soon morphed into a sustained insurgent offensive.
The TFG and its Ethiopian backers had low public support. The government lacked legitimacy, capacity, and credibility, and refused to broaden its political base throughout 2007.
Opposition figures were purged from parliament, leaving a narrow coalition that failed to advance any political transition or create institutions. The TFG was widely seen as corrupt, fractured and abusive.
Al-Shabaab, former a youth militia under the ICU's military wing, emerged as an independent faction in early 2007. It gained significant combat experience and began governing territory for the first time in 2008.
The Ethiopian invasion transformed the group from a fringe entity to a dominant insurgent force.
By 2008, most of the country had fallen under insurgent control, leaving the TFG on the brink of collapse.
More than 80% of its police and army had
deserted. The invasion failed to empower the
TFG, which only controlled some parts of
Mogadishu
Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
and its original 2006 capital of
Baidoa
Baidoa (, Somali (Af-Maxaa): , ) is the largest city of the South West State of Somalia.
Between 2002 and 2014, Baidoa was the capital of the South West State. In 2014, the capital was changed to Barawa.
Overview
Baydhabo is the main hub of ...
by the end of 2008.
The Ethiopian army withdrew with significant casualties and little to show for their efforts.
The insurgency had achieved its primary goal of removing the Ethiopian military presence from most of Somalia by November 2008.
Ethiopian withdrawal and new TFG administration
As the Ethiopians withdrew from Somalia, tensions between the differing insurgent factions exacerbated.
By this time most elements of the pre-invasion Islamic Courts had merged into one of the two wings of the
Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) or had joined
al-Shabaab, though some smaller factions continued operating independently under the ICU banner into 2009. A power-sharing deal was reached in Djibouti between the TFG and
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's ARS-D faction in late 2008. Al-Shabaab, which had broken away from the moderate Islamists, rejected the agreement and expanded its control, later joined by
Hizbul Islam
Hizbul Islam ("Islamic Party"), also known as Hizbul Islaami, Hisbi Islam, or Hezb-ul Islam, was a Somali Islamist group formed after four Islamist groups merged to oppose the new Transitional Federal Government administration of President S ...
—a coalition of insurgent groups from the Ethiopian military occupation era, including the ARS-Asmara faction led by
Hassan Dahir Aweys. Meanwhile,
Ahlu Sunnah Waljama'ah, backed by Ethiopia and aligned with the TFG, fought and successfully repelled al-Shabaab advances in
Galguduud
Galguduud (, , or ''Ghelgudud'') is an administrative region ('' gobol'') of Galmudug state in central Somalia. Its administrative capital is Dusmareb. The largest town in the region is El Buur, which lies at the centre of the region.
Galgudu ...
.
Rather than eliminating
jihadist
Jihadism is a neologism for modern, armed militant Political aspects of Islam, Islamic movements that seek to Islamic state, establish states based on Islamic principles. In a narrower sense, it refers to the belief that armed confrontation ...
activity in Somalia, the invasion significantly expanded it, with al-Shabaab's ranks growing from around 600 to several thousand fighters by the time of Ethiopia's 2009 withdrawal.
Between 2004 and 2008, Ethiopia—then the TFG's main ally—trained thousands of Somali troops, but over 10,000 deserted or joined the insurgency. After Ethiopia's 2009 withdrawal,
AMISOM
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was a Multinational force formed by the African Union. The operation deployed to Somalia soon after the Islamic Courts Union was deposed by troops from Ethiopia during War in Somalia (2006–2009), ...
assumed responsibility for rebuilding the army, which still lacked a functional
chain of command
A command hierarchy is a group of people who carry out orders based on others' authority within the group.
Military chain of command
In a military context, the chain of command is the line of authority and responsibility along which orders ...
.
After
parliament
In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
took in 275 officials from the
Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, ARS leader
Sheikh
Sheikh ( , , , , ''shuyūkh'' ) is an honorific title in the Arabic language, literally meaning "elder (administrative title), elder". It commonly designates a tribal chief or a Muslim ulama, scholar. Though this title generally refers to me ...
Ahmed was elected TFG President on 31 January 2009. Since then, the al-Shabaab radical Islamists have accused the new TFG President of accepting the
secular
Secularity, also the secular or secularness (from Latin , or or ), is the state of being unrelated or neutral in regards to religion. The origins of secularity can be traced to the Bible itself. The concept was fleshed out through Christian hi ...
transitional government and have continued the civil war since he arrived in Mogadishu at the
presidential palace
A presidential palace is the official residence of the president in some countries. Some presidential palaces were once the official residences to monarchs in former monarchies that were preserved during those states' transition into republics. ...
in early February 2009.
Timeline
2009–10: War begins
Al-Shabaab also vowed to fight the government. On 4 February 2009, four Islamist groups, including
Hassan Dahir Aweys' Eritrean branch of the
ARS merged and created the group
Hisbi Islam, to oppose the new government of
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed
Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed (, ; born 25 July 1965) is a Somali politician who served as the 7th President of Somalia from 2009 to 2012. Before his presidency, he became the Chairman of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) from 2004 to 2007 and the A ...
. New TFG President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed arrived in Mogadishu as a president for the first time on 7 February 2009. The al-Shabaab and other radical Islamists began firing at the new TFG president hours later. They accused the new President of accepting the secular transitional government.
On 8 February, heavy fighting broke out in southern
Mogadishu
Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
.
al-Shabaab leader Sheikh Mukhtar Robow (Abu Mansur) met with Sharif Ahmed for peace talks during his visit to
Mogadishu
Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
, while Omar Iman rejected the president. During these negotiations, Sharif Ahmed said that he would be prepared to enforce
Sharia Law
Sharia, Sharī'ah, Shari'a, or Shariah () is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition based on scriptures of Islam, particularly the Qur'an and hadith. In Islamic terminology ''sharīʿah'' refers to immutable, inta ...
in Somalia, which was the radical groups' main demand. However, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow, a former al-Shabaab spokesman, denied having talked to Sharif Ahmed and vowed to continue fighting until his demands for Sharia Law were met. Sheikh Mukhtar Robow warned
Nigeria
Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
against sending peace keepers to Somalia, as al-Shabaab view the AU peace keepers as occupying forces. An offensive was launched two days later by al-Shabaab to take the Bakool province. Government officials who had been ousted from Baidoa had been amassing troops in the city of Hudur (Xudur) and planning a major offensive to re-take Baidoa. Islamist forces attacked the province and reached the capital where they started a battle against government forces. In Galmudug, Clan militia took the town of Masagaway from al-Shabaab, while there was also fighting in Warsheekh.
The spokesman for al-Shabaab at the time, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow (Abu Mansur), rebuffed reports from several media outlets that a mutual agreement between him and newly elected president Sharif Ahmed was made. In his 12 February statement, he also added that he had no intention to contact the president on any matters, and that they would continue fighting against foreign troops and what he described as an "apostate" government. Al-Shabaab also vowed war against the new government. On 22 February, a double suicide bomb attack on an AU base in Mogadishu left 11 Burundian soldiers dead and another 15 wounded. Two days later, heavy fighting erupted in the city as TFG and AU forces attempted to retake the city from radical Islamist forces. The fighting lasted for two days and killed 87 people, including: 48 civilians, 15 insurgents and 6 TFG policemen. At the same time as the fighting raged in Mogadishu, al-Shabaab forces took the town of Hudor, to the northwest, in fighting that killed another 20 people: ten TFG soldiers, six insurgents and four civilians. On 28 February, it appeared that
Hisbi Islam would sign a ceasefire with the
Transitional Federal Government
The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) (, , ) was internationally recognized as a provisional government of the Somalia from 14 October 2004 until 20 August 2012. It was established in Nairobi, Kenya, following the Transitional National Govern ...
.
However, by 1 March, it was clear that no ceasefire would be given, despite President
Sharif Ahmed having agreed to proposals for a
truce
A ceasefire (also known as a truce), also spelled cease-fire (the antonym of 'open fire'), is a stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions often due to mediation by a third party. Ceasefires may b ...
and having offered to accept the implementation of
Sharia
Sharia, Sharī'ah, Shari'a, or Shariah () is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition based on Islamic holy books, scriptures of Islam, particularly the Quran, Qur'an and hadith. In Islamic terminology ''sharīʿah'' ...
law but refused to move troops from civilian areas despite the Islamists doing so.
al-Shabaab announced on 6 May that it would continue the war even if AMISOM withdrew. The Somali government, in turn, later announced an immediate blockade on airstrips and seaports under insurgent control to stop the flow of weapons reaching them.
Battle of Mogadishu and central Somalia
On 7 May, a fierce battle for control of Mogadishu started between al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam against the TFG. Hundreds were killed and injured and tens of thousands were displaced. By 11 May, rebel forces gained the upper hand and made large gains taking over most of the capital. The rebels came close to overthrowing the government before fighting ended on 14 May, new rounds of fighting would last all through August. By 16 May, al-Shabaab captured the strategic town of
Jowhar, which connects Mogadishu with central Somalia. One of the largest battles of the war took place about 3 weeks later on 5 June when Hizbul Islam captured Wabho leaving 50 combatants killed. On 19 June, the transitional parliament speaker Sheikh
Adan Mohamed Nuur Madobe asked the international community to send foreign troops to Somalia within the following 24 hours. He stated that the government's power is on the verge of being defeated by Islamist forces in the Somali capital. The Somali cabinet declared a
state of emergency
A state of emergency is a situation in which a government is empowered to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of its citizens. A government can declare such a state before, during, o ...
, and asked for help from neighboring countries which included Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Yemen. Ethiopia refused saying intervention needs an international mandate.
al-Shabaab responded by 21 June saying they would fight any foreign troops, and made threats against potential Kenyan intervention.
President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed declared a state of emergency by 22 June, as a new round of fighting in Mogadishu left 12 dead and 20 injured with hundreds more fleeing the city. The notion of Ethiopian troops intervening in the conflict caused defections by local government administration officials. Areas affected by this included
Beledweyne
Beledweyne (, ) is a city in central Somalia. Beledweyne District is the capital city of the Hiran region.
The city is situated in the Shebelle Valley riverine near the Ethiopian border, 210 miles (345 km) north of Mogadishu. Beledweyne ...
, ''El-gal village'', and
Hiraan. The effects also caused many pro-government
Islamic Courts Union officials to resign. In response, TFG forces led by general Muktar Hussein Afrah started military manoeuvers in the East side of Mogadishu. On 6 July, The Amir of al-Shabaab,
Ahmed Godane gave government forces an ultimatum of five days to hand over their weapons which was rejected. At some point, foreign aid to the government was provided in the form of security advisors. On 17 July, two of these advisors (sent by France) were captured by insurgents. The Somali government gave permission for French commandos to launch operations inside Somalia to free the two French nationals that were held by al-Shabaab. France responded on 22 July by sending in warships and helicopters near the ports of Mogadishu and Marka declaring they would undertake military operations to free the two French military advisors who had been captured by insurgents. One of the hostages eventually was able to escape by August 2009, while the other was last seen in a video released in June 2010 asking for assistance.
The United States also took up targeting
Al-Qaeda
, image = Flag of Jihad.svg
, caption = Jihadist flag, Flag used by various al-Qaeda factions
, founder = Osama bin Laden{{Assassinated, Killing of Osama bin Laden
, leaders = {{Plainlist,
* Osama bin Lad ...
members. On 14 September several U.S. Navy helicopters launched a
raid in Baraawe against
Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, killing him as well as five other militants.
Also in 2009, British Army soldiers from the
Special Air Service
The Special Air Service (SAS) is a special forces unit of the British Army. It was founded as a regiment in 1941 by David Stirling, and in 1950 it was reconstituted as a corps. The unit specialises in a number of roles including counter-terr ...
and the
Special Reconnaissance Regiment were deployed to Djibouti as part of
Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa to conduct operations against Islamist terrorists in Somalia. They carried out missions focusing on surveillance and targeting of terrorists, alongside their US counterparts. They have also been carrying out this role in Yemen.
Al-Shabaab-Hizbul Islam conflict
The armed conflict between Hizbul Islam and al-Shabaab began due to a dispute between the faction of the Ras Kamboni Brigades led by Sheikh Ahmed "Madoobe" and al-Shabaab, over a power sharing agreement in
Kisimayo.
Hizbul Islam and al-Shabaab had made a power sharing agreement for the city, where the power would rotate between the two factions, with each faction controlling the city for periods of six months. However, due to clan politics al-Shabaab refused to let the power rotation take place. This led to internal problems within Hizbul Islam as its ARS-A and
JABISO factions, which were aligned with al-Shabaab in Hiran and Mogadishu, refused to support the Ras Kamboni Brigades, while Anole remained neutral. It also led to a split within the Ras Kamboni Brigades, with a faction led by Hizbul Islam's deputy chairman Sheikh Hassan "Turki" refusing to back Ahmad "Madoobe" and instead siding with al-Shabaab.
It was reported on 1 October that
heavy fighting in Kisimayo had broken out between the two factions, al-Shabaab controlled most of the city with dozens of casualties reported by the afternoon. At least 17 more people were killed in a series of battles overnight on 5 October. Hizbul Islam claimed that they had captured foreign fighters in the battle.
The battle eventually ended with a decisive victory for al-Shabaab, which expelled Madbobe's Ras Kamboni Brigade forces from the city.
Throughout November 2009, fighting between the two factions continued as the battle lines moved into Southern Somalia, resulting in a decrease in insurgent attacks at Mogadishu targeting government forces (TFG) and their allies (AMISOM).
Sheikh Ahmad Madobe's forces were ultimately overpowered by al-Shabaab and its local allies, and forced to withdraw from the
Lower Juba
Lower Juba (, , , ) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in southern Somalia. With its capital at Kismayo, it lies in the autonomous Jubaland region.
Lower Juba is bordered by Kenya, the Somali regions of Gedo, Middle Juba (Jubbada Dhex ...
region and most of Southern Somalia.
The merger between al-Shabaab and Sheikh Hassan Turki's branch of the Ras Kamboni Brigades occurred early in 2010 (February) with a call for other groups in Hizbul Islam to do the same.
Additional battles throughout 2010 were fought between Hizbul Islam and al-Shabaab in central Somalia as fighting moved from the
Hiran region to the
Bay region, to
Lower Shabelle
Lower Shabelle (, , , ) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in southern Somalia.
Geography
Lower Shabelle is bordered by the regions of Banaadir, Middle Shabelle (Shabeellaha Dhexe), Hiran, Bay, Middle Jubba (Jubbada Dhexe) and by the ...
.
allafrica
''allAfrica'' is a website that aggregates and produces news primarily on the African continent about all areas of African life, politics, issues and culture. It is owned by AllAfrica Global Media, a multi-media content service provider and the l ...
br>Aweys Surrenders to Al Shabaab, Six Killed in Bombing
Hizbul Islam eventually was forced to surrender the
Luuq District in
Gedo
Gedo (, , , or ''Ghedu'') is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in Jubaland, southern Somalia. Its regional capital is Garbahaarreey. The region was formed during 1974 and is bordered by the Ogaden in Ethiopia, the North Eastern Province ...
region to al-Shabaab, after which the group announced that it would merge with al-Shabaab. From mid-December al-Shabaab fighters started taking over Hizbul Islam positions. The merge was confirmed on 20 December, when Hizbul Islam Chairman Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys and Sheikh Mohammad Osman Arus, the organisation's official spokesman, surrendered to al-Shabaab and disbanded the organisation.
2011–15: Government forces retake lost territory
Battle of Gashandiga
Al-Shabaab controlled roughly half the lands claimed by the Somali government at their greatest extent in 2009 July. With the help of allies, government forces slowly started to make gains that would lead to a retake of lost territory through various military operations. An offensive on 20 February 2011 was dubbed by AU Representative
Wafula Wamunyinyi as the "Battle of Gashandiga."
This offensive involved AMISOM troops destroying a large complex of al-Shabaab trenches, killing six al-Shabaab commanders in Mogadishu. Towards the end of February, disturbances moved into Mogadishu again in the form of one suicide attack and heavy shelling as al-Shabaab fighters attempted to re-take lost territory. This push resulted in the deaths of at least 47 people, rebels displayed one wounded and five dead Burundian AMISOM soldiers. Another offensive was opened up between 26 February and 28 February by TFG troops with support of Ethiopian soldiers in
Bula Hawo (southern Somalia), resulting in 33 deaths.
By 5 March, AMISOM and TFG forces claimed to control seven of the city's districts, while six were contested and three were controlled by anti-government forces. Al-Shabaab responded to the government offensive by putting up roadblocks to prevent the movement of goods from the seaport. This adversely affected both sides of the conflict, as the TFG controlled the port and its profits. At the same time though, places such as Bakaara Market were controlled by the insurgents where many of the goods were bound to be sold.
It was also reported by this time that up to 53 AMISOM may have died in the clashes, which included 43 Burundian and 10 Ugandans. An additional 1,000 peacekeepers to assist in the TFG's renewed offensive against al-Shabaab were brought in, and by 16 March AMISOM had a force of nearly 9,000.
In early May 2011, al-Shabaab were pushed out of
Garbahare by government forces commanded by
Nur Matan Abdi. At least 26 al-Shabaab militants were killed, while just five government soldiers were wounded.
Defeat of al-Shabaab in Mogadishu
The 2010–11 battle of Mogadishu began when al-Shabaab militants launched an offensive to capture the city. The battle soon swung in favor of government forces, who were able to drive the militant group out by 11 October 2011.
The complete capture of the city took place on 7 September 2012, when the Transitional Federal Government's troops and their AMISOM allies managed to secure the city. Around the same time witnesses reported al-Shabaab vehicles abandoning their bases in the capital for the south-central city of
Baidoa
Baidoa (, Somali (Af-Maxaa): , ) is the largest city of the South West State of Somalia.
Between 2002 and 2014, Baidoa was the capital of the South West State. In 2014, the capital was changed to Barawa.
Overview
Baydhabo is the main hub of ...
. The group's spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage described the exodus as a tactical retreat, and vowed to continue the insurgency against the national government. Observers have suggested that the pullout may have been caused in part by internal ideological rifts in the rebel organization.
The city was by no means safe after al-Shabaab withdrew as the militant group continued hit and run tactics in the Northern part of the city. Suicide bombs continued to be an occurrence lasting into 2020 (see below).
Fighting in Puntland
On 2 to 3 September, fighting was reported in
Puntland
Puntland is an autonomous state that considers itself to be part of Somalia, despite not accepting the legitimacy of Somalia's current governing administration. It was formed in 1998, and was a federal member state of Somalia from its fou ...
that resulted in the deaths of up to 60 people, including eight Puntland soldiers and 40 al-Shabaab militants, with Insurgents being repelled. al-Shabaab claimed on 7 September that they have captured two Kenyan troops who were on a surveillance mission near the Kenyan-Somali Border. Puntland forces captured 18 members of al-Shabaab in counter-terrorism operations on 8 September.
Battle of Elwaq & Kismayo offensive
al-Shabaab attacked the southern town of Elwaq on 10 September 2011, resulting in the deaths of 12 insurgents and soldiers.
The next day, Somali troops fought back, retaking the town after militants fled on captured
technicals.
The bodies of 30 militants were later found, some of them children.
Conversely, al-Shabaab claimed they killed around 70 government aligned troops and captured 10 technicals.
The Burundian military lost 51 soldiers in October, causing anger among Burundians, who believe that their country is sacrificing too much. Many Burundians have urged other AU members to contribute troops to the Somalia mission.
Nigeria
Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
, Djibouti, and
Guinea
Guinea, officially the Republic of Guinea, is a coastal country in West Africa. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Guinea-Bissau to the northwest, Senegal to the north, Mali to the northeast, Côte d'Ivoire to the southeast, and Sier ...
have indicated sending troops, but all have yet to contribute.
On 4 September 2012 the
Kenyan Navy shelled
Kismayo. This was part of an AU offensive to capture the city from al-Shabaab fighters. The harbour was shelled two times and the airport three times. According to a UN report the export of
charcoal
Charcoal is a lightweight black carbon residue produced by strongly heating wood (or other animal and plant materials) in minimal oxygen to remove all water and volatile constituents. In the traditional version of this pyrolysis process, ca ...
through Kismayo is a major source of income for al-Shabaab.
On 28 September 2012, the Somali National Army assisted by AMISOM troops and Ras Kamboni militia launched an assault on Kismayo, al-Shabaab's last major stronghold. The allied forces reportedly managed to re-capture much of the city from the insurgents.
Operation Indian Ocean & Jubba Corridor
In August 2014, AMISOM supported by Somali forces began
Operation Indian Ocean.
On 1 September 2014, a US drone strike carried out as part of the broader mission killed al-Shabaab leader
Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr, also known as Ahmed Godane
US authorities hailed the raid as a major symbolic and operational loss for al-Shabaab, and the Somali government offered a 45-day amnesty to all moderate members of the militant group. Political analysts also suggested that the insurgent commander's death will likely lead to al-Shabaab's fragmentation and eventual dissolution.
From 19 July 2015,
AMISOM
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was a Multinational force formed by the African Union. The operation deployed to Somalia soon after the Islamic Courts Union was deposed by troops from Ethiopia during War in Somalia (2006–2009), ...
and the
Somali National Army regained many villages and the major towns of
Bardhere and
Dinsoor. Operation Piga Jangili, seizing Bardhere, involved fighting for six hours against an estimated 175 to 200 insurgent opponents. "Upon entering the kill zone, several
Improvised Explosive Device
An improvised explosive device (IED) is a bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional warfare, conventional military action. It may be constructed of conventional military explosives, such as an artillery shell, attached t ...
initiated ambushes
elayedconvoy movement and killed and wounded multiple KDF soldiers." Then-Captain William Doyle of
10th Special Forces Group
The 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (10th SFG (A), or 10th Group) is an active duty United States Army Special Forces (SF) Group. 10th Group is designed to deploy and execute nine doctrinal missions: Unconventional warfare (United States), ...
,
US Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...
, won the
Silver Star
The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against a ...
for "exposing himself to effective fire so he could ... keep the KDF convoy moving through the valley." The medal citation credits his actions with contributing to 173 enemy killed and 60 more wounded, while saving "countless" partner forces.
2016: Battle of El Adde and resurgence of al-Shabaab
On 15 January 2016, al-Shabaab
attacked a Kenyan-run
AMISOM
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was a Multinational force formed by the African Union. The operation deployed to Somalia soon after the Islamic Courts Union was deposed by troops from Ethiopia during War in Somalia (2006–2009), ...
base in
El Adde Somalia
Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...
, overrunning the compound and killing approximately 185 soldiers. Al-Shabaab then regained the important town of Marka, 45 km from the capital, and the port of Gard in Puntland region (March 2016). Al-Shabaab's activities create constant dilemmas for international humanitarian aid organisations.
On 5 March 2016, US aircraft and unmanned drones killed more than 150 al-Shabaab insurgents at a
training camp
A training camp is an organized period in which military personnel or athletes participate in a rigorous and focused schedule of training in order to learn or improve skills. Athletes typically utilise training camps to prepare for upcoming events ...
called "Camp Raso", located about 120 miles north of Mogadishu as they were "training for a large-scale attack," according to a spokesman for the
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD, or DOD) is an United States federal executive departments, executive department of the federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and superv ...
. The camp had been under surveillance for some time before the strike. In the early hours of 9 March 2016, US Somali special forces killed between 1 and 15 al-Shabaab fighters in a heliborne-attack on the al-Shabaab-controlled town of
Awdhegele, as well as capturing an undisclosed number of high-value al-Shabaab figures.
On 11/12 April 2016, two US airstrikes on al-Shabaab targets in the town of Kismayo killed about a dozen suspected militants who posed an "imminent threat" to American troops in the country. As of May 2016, roughly 50 US special operations troops operate at undisclosed locations across southern Somalia, with their headquarters at the airport in Mogadishu; advising and assisting, Kenyan, Somali and Ugandan forces in their fight against al-Shabaab. Also in that month, US personnel helped those forces plan an operation against illegal checkpoints.
On 12 May 2016, a small group of US military advisers accompanied some Ugandan soldiers during a raid on an illegal taxation checkpoint just west of Mogadishu, when the Ugandans came under fire from 15 to 20 al-Shabaab militants, the US commander on the ground called in a "defensive" airstrike, killing five militants and wounding two more.
Two days previously, the US provided helicopters and advise and assist in support of a Somali military mission against a group of al-Shabaab militants, which one defense official said was also defensive because they had intelligence that the al-Shabaab fighters were planning an attack on the AMISOM installation nearby. No word on how many al-Shabaab were killed or wounded in that operation.
On 13 May, a US strike targeted nine al-Shabaab militants, three of them were allegedly killed.
On the night of 31 May 2016, two senior al-Shabaab operatives; Mohamud Dulyadeyn, the plotter behind the
Garissa University attack in April 2015 and Maalim Daud, head of al-Shabaab's intelligence hit squads and another 16 members from al-Shabaab were killed by the Somali National Army and anti-terror partners. Defense Department spokeswoman Lt. Col. Michelle L. Baldanza told CNN "US forces supported this Somali-led operation in an advise-and-assist role,".
On 1 June 2016, al-Shabaab militants attacked with a car bomb on the gate of Ambassador Hotel in
Mogadishu
Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
, Somalia. At least 15 people have been killed in the attack, among 10 civilian pedestrians and two members of parliament near the gate. Also that day, the Pentagon announced that it had conducted an airstrike that killed a senior al-Shabaab leader in Somalia on 27 May. On 3 August 2016, a contingent of elite American troops acting as military advisers assisted Somali commandos in an assault on an al-Shabaab checkpoint in
Saakow, as the Somali-led force approached the checkpoint the militants opened fire, a gun battle ensued that resulted in 3 militants killed.
On 29 September 2016, a Somali regional government demanded an explanation from the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
after an airstrike killed 22 civilians and other soldiers instead of the targeted
al-Shabaab militants in
Galmudug
Galmudug (; ), officially Galmudug State of Somalia (), is a States and regions of Somalia, Federal Member State in central Somalia, with its capital at Dhusamareb. It is bordered to the north by the Puntland state of Somalia, to the west by the S ...
. The ''Military Times'' also reported that on 26 September a bomb-manufacturing network linked al-Shabaab attacked a small team of US and Somali troops, who were conducting an operation near Kismayo, with small-arms fire. A Pentagon spokesman said the US military "conducted a self-defense strike to neutralize the threat and in doing so killed nine enemy fighters." Also on 28 September, near the town of
Galkayo, a Somali army unit conducting counterterrorism operations nearby, when the Somali soldiers came under fire from al-Shabaab militants. The Somali soldiers engaged them, then broke contact and rejoined with their nearby American advisers and soon afterwards the militants "began to maneuver in an offensive manner" so the US conducted a self-defense airstrike, killing 4 militants.
2017: American involvement expanded
In late March 2017, President Donald Trump gave
US Africa Command more freedom to conduct airstrikes and other military operations.
In addition to stepping up airstrikes, US special forces fighting with Somali forces have also been increased, conventional US troops give lessons in building defense institutions, with added support from other nations.
''CNN'' reported that General
Thomas Waldhauser, commander of AFRICOM, told reporters in April that the US seeks to help Somali security forces gain the ability to provide for their own security by 2021.
The ''New York Times'' reported that on 4 May 2017, a
US Navy SEAL team partnered with Somali National Army forces, carried out a mission on an al-Shabaab-occupied complex around west of Mogadishu.
''Fox News'' reported that they targeting what Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis said was a "group of people" associated with attacks on Mogadishu. The ''New York Times'' reported that Defence Department officials said that Somali forces were to have led the operation, with the SEALs hanging back in an advise, assist and accompany role, however
Brig.Gen. David J. Furness, the commander of the military's task force for the Horn of Africa, said that American and Somali forces were traveling together in a single group. Whilst approaching the complex, the militants opened fire and the mission was aborted,
Senior chief petty officer
Senior Chief Petty Officer ''(SCPO)'' is an enlisted rank in the navies of some countries.
United States
U.S. Coast Guardsenior chiefpetty officercollar device
U.S. Coast Guardsenior chiefpetty officerinsignia
Senior chiefpetty officer ...
Kyle Milliken was killed, 2 other SEALs and an interpreter were wounded. Captain Jeff Davis said that the mission "resulted in the death of three Shabaab operatives including Moalin Osman Abdi Badil," the group quickly returned to the aircraft that had taken it to the area and was exfilled. Davis described Badil as an al-Shabaab leader responsible for gathering information on troop movements in order to support attacks on Somali and African Union forces and that he had been linked to the death of several soldiers and at least one civilian.
''CNN'' reported that on 11 June 2017, that a US air strike killed 8 al-Shabaab militants in
Sakow, the president of Somalia said that "This was a successful strike which destroyed a key al-Shabaab command and supply hub," and that "This will ultimately disrupt the enemy's ability to conduct new attacks within Somalia." ''CNN'' reported that on 23 July 2017, The US carried out a targeted airstrike an al-Shabaab regional commander in Banadir.
''Fox News'' reported that on 30 July 2017, a US strike near Tortoroow in southern Somalia which was coordinated with regional partners as a direct response to al-Shabaab's actions which included attacks on Somali forces, killed Ali Jabal, who was considered a senior al-Shabaab terrorist and was responsible for leading forces operating in the Mogadishu and Banadiir area, including planning and carrying out attacks in Mogadishu.
''ABC'' reported that on 10 August 2017, airstrikes conducted by drones in
Banaadir
Banaadir (, , ) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in southeastern Somalia. It covers the same area as the city of Mogadishu, which serves as the capital. It is the only region in the country not belonging to any of the six states. It is b ...
in a joint operation against al-Shabaab fighters, killing a high-level al-Shabaab leader. The airstrikes marked the fourth offensive airstrike against al-Shabaab since the new authorisation in March. ''CNN'' reported that on 17 August 2017, the US conducted a "self defense" drone strike in Jilib after a joint US-Somali force, consisting of Somali troops and US advisors, came under direct attack by al-Shabaab militants and a firefight ensued, 7 militants were killed.
''Military.com'' reported that on 3 November 2017, that a US drone conducted two airstrikes against
Islamic State in Somalia, at least six missiles were used which struck in Buqa, 37 miles north of
Qandala, AFRICOM said in a statement that "several terrorists" were killed and that the strikes were carried out in coordination with Somalia's government; marking the first time the US has conducted airstrikes against ISS terrorists in Somalia. ''CNN'' reported that US drone aircraft conducted five strikes between 9 and 12 November against al-Shabaab and ISS-linked militants, killing 36 al-Shabaab and four ISS fighters. One of the strikes killed an al-Shabaab member who had attacked a joint US-Somali military convoy in Gaduud. ''CNN'' reported that a US airstrike on a camp 125 miles northwest of Mogadishu killed more than 100 al-Shabaab militants; the US now estimates there are between 3,000 and 6,000 al-Shabaab fighters and fewer than 250 ISIS operatives in Somalia. ''Military Times'' reported that on 14 November, a US drone strike roughly 60 miles northwest of Mogadishu killed several al-Shabaab militants. ''CNN'' reported that on 24 December, a US airstrike in southern Somalia killed 13 al-Shabaab terrorists.
2018–present: Ongoing guerrilla warfare

On 15 December 2018, there were demonstrations in Baidoa by supporters of
Mukhtar Robow, a presidential candidate, who was arrested two days before by government forces and transferred to Mogadishu. Rowbow is a former member of al-Shabaab. Robbow was seized by the
Ethiopian National Defence Force.
African Union Mission in Somalia
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was a Multinational force formed by the African Union. The operation deployed to Somalia soon after the Islamic Courts Union was deposed by troops from Ethiopia during a large scale invasion in l ...
(AMISOM) announced in a statement that its forces did not assist in Rowbow's arrest and his transfer to Mogadishu.
2019
By 2019, the United States was heavily involved in the war, using
airstrike
An airstrike, air strike, or air raid is an offensive operation carried out by aircraft. Air strikes are delivered from aircraft such as blimps, balloons, fighter aircraft, attack aircraft, bombers, attack helicopters, and drones. The official d ...
s. On 14 April, AFRICOM killed Abdulhakim Dhuqub, a high-ranking ISIS-Somalia official, near
Xiriiro,
Bari Region. On 25 October, a
US airstrike targeted
Islamic militants near Ameyra, south of
Bosaso, which killed three of their leaders.
On 12 July, A
car bomb
A car bomb, bus bomb, van bomb, lorry bomb, or truck bomb, also known as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), is an improvised explosive device designed to be detonated in an automobile or other vehicles.
Car bombs can be roug ...
ing and
gun attack killed at least 26 people, including two prominent journalists and nine foreigners, in
Kismayo,
Lower Juba
Lower Juba (, , , ) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in southern Somalia. With its capital at Kismayo, it lies in the autonomous Jubaland region.
Lower Juba is bordered by Kenya, the Somali regions of Gedo, Middle Juba (Jubbada Dhex ...
. On 22 July, a
bombing killed 17 people and injured 28 others in Mogadishu. On 24 July, a suicide bomber
detonate
Detonation () is a type of combustion involving a supersonic exothermic front accelerating through a medium that eventually drives a shock front propagating directly in front of it. Detonations propagate supersonically through shock waves wit ...
d inside the office of the
Mayor of Mogadishu
The Mayor of Mogadishu is head of the executive branch of Mogadishu, the Capital city, capital of Somalia. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces laws wit ...
,
killing six government officials; mayor
Abdirahman Abdi Osman was hospitalised in
Doha
Doha ( ) is the capital city and main financial hub of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf coast in the east of the country, north of Al Wakrah and south of Al Khor (city), Al Khor and Lusail, it is home to most of the country's population. It ...
,
Qatar
Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country in West Asia. It occupies the Geography of Qatar, Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it shares Qatar–Saudi Arabia border, its sole land b ...
before succumbing to his injuries on 1 August.
On 26 August, the Somali Army captured Burweryn from al-Shabaab.
On 28 December, an al-Shabaab suicide truck bomber
killed at least 85 people at a
police checkpoint in Mogadishu.
2020
On 5 January, al-Shabaab militants
attacked the
airstrip
An aerodrome, airfield, or airstrip is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for public or private use. Aerodromes in ...
of the
military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. A military base always provides accommodations for ...
Camp Simba, which is used by US and Kenyan forces. One US serviceman and two contractors were killed; two US servicemen were wounded and four militants were also killed in the gunfight.
On 19 March, the Somali Army captured
Janale town from al-Shabaab, with support from the US military.
On 31 May, the Somali military shot dead approximately 18 al-Shabaab militants and injured several others in an operation conducted in the southern
Lower Shabelle
Lower Shabelle (, , , ) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in southern Somalia.
Geography
Lower Shabelle is bordered by the regions of Banaadir, Middle Shabelle (Shabeellaha Dhexe), Hiran, Bay, Middle Jubba (Jubbada Dhexe) and by the ...
region.
2021
On 7 February, a roadside bomb exploded in
Dusmareb,
Galguduud
Galguduud (, , or ''Ghelgudud'') is an administrative region ('' gobol'') of Galmudug state in central Somalia. Its administrative capital is Dusmareb. The largest town in the region is El Buur, which lies at the centre of the region.
Galgudu ...
, killing 12 agents working for the
National Intelligence and Security Agency. The local head of the intelligence agency, Abdirashid Abdunur, was among those killed.
On 14 February, al-Shabaab killed two SNA soldiers in Awdheegle district in
Lower Shabelle
Lower Shabelle (, , , ) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in southern Somalia.
Geography
Lower Shabelle is bordered by the regions of Banaadir, Middle Shabelle (Shabeellaha Dhexe), Hiran, Bay, Middle Jubba (Jubbada Dhexe) and by the ...
.
On 2 March, al-Shabaab publicly killed five people by firing squad for allegedly spying for the United States and Somali intelligence agencies in Jilib, Middle Juba. Hundreds of people reportedly gathered to watch the killings.
On 5 March, a suicide car bomber
killed at least 20 people outside a restaurant in Mogadishu.
On 3 April, al-Shabaab militants attacked two SNA bases near Mogadishu resulting in several hours of fighting. The SNA said they killed 77 al-Shabaab militants.
al-Shabaab said they killed 47 SNA troops in the attack.
On the same day, a suicide bomber detonated their suicide vest targeting civilians outside a teashop in Mogadishu. The attack left 6 people dead, including the perpetrator.
On 10 April, a suicide bomber tried to kill a regional governor in
Baidoa
Baidoa (, Somali (Af-Maxaa): , ) is the largest city of the South West State of Somalia.
Between 2002 and 2014, Baidoa was the capital of the South West State. In 2014, the capital was changed to Barawa.
Overview
Baydhabo is the main hub of ...
. The governor escaped, but 3 others were killed in the attack, including two of his bodyguards.
On 14 April, 17 civilians were killed when an IED exploded as a minibus drove over it whilst travelling on the Mogadishu-
Jowhar road.
From 25 April – 6 May, hundreds of Somali soldiers
mutinied.
On 12 June, a Somali policeman was killed and two others were wounded when ISIS operatives detonated an IED at a police checkpoint in the City of Afgooye, 20 km northwest of Mogadishu.
On 15 June, at least 15 Somali Army recruits
were killed when an al-Shabaab suicide bomber blew himself up at a Somali Army training camp in Mogadishu.
On 27 June, Puntland executed 21 al-Shabaab prisoners in the largest single execution of al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia.
On 10 July, nine people were killed after a car bomb exploded in Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab later claimed responsibility.
On 24 September, two Somali policemen were shot dead by
ISS operatives in Mogadishu.
On 25 September, at least eight people were killed and six others were wounded in a suicide bombing in Mogadishu.
On 25 November, an al-Shabaab suicide bomber in a
sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive.
There is no commonly agreed-upon definitio ...
killed eight people in Mogadishu.
On 5 December, al-Shabaab claimed responsibility a bomb blast at a restaurant in
Awdhegle in southern Somalia. At least five people including civilians were killed and more than six others wounded in the attack.
2022
On 12 January, al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for a car bomb that killed eight people and wounded another nine outside the
Mogadishu International Airport, a facility which hosts the United States Embassy and other diplomatic offices. The group said via a radio address that a convoy of "white officials" had been the target of the bombing.
On 19 February, a
suicide bombing in a restaurant in the city of
Beledweyne
Beledweyne (, ) is a city in central Somalia. Beledweyne District is the capital city of the Hiran region.
The city is situated in the Shebelle Valley riverine near the Ethiopian border, 210 miles (345 km) north of Mogadishu. Beledweyne ...
killed 14 people. Al-Shabaab later claimed responsibility.
On 23 March, al-Shabaab carried out
attacks in Mogadishu and Beledweyne. Politicians
Amina Mohamed Abdi and
Hassan Dhuhul were among killed.
On 3 May, at least 30 soldiers of the
African Union
The African Union (AU) is a continental union of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the African Union. The b ...
, including 10
Burundi
Burundi, officially the Republic of Burundi, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is located in the Great Rift Valley at the junction between the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa, with a population of over 14 million peop ...
an soldiers, were killed after al-Shabaab militants attacked an African Union military base near the village of Ceel Baraf, about 100 miles north of Mogadishu. At least 20 al-Shabaab fighters were reportedly killed.
In late July, al-Shabaab launched
an invasion of Ethiopia with at least 1,500 militants. The insurgents captured a town, advanced up to , and inflicted heavy losses on the Ethiopians before being driven back by security forces.
On 19 August, al-Shabaab militants
attacked a hotel in Mogadishu, killing at least 21 people and wounding over 100. In response to the terror attack, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared "total war" against al-Shabaab. Cooperating with
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
forces (who contributed airstrikes against al-Shabaab, one of which killed 27 al-Shabaab militants with no civilian casualties reported), an offensive operation began to weaken al-Shabaab's forces in the
Hiran region. The offensive operations had been described as the "largest combined Somali and ATMIS offensive operation in five years."
It was reported that at least 43,000 Somalis died as a result of
drought in 2022.
2023
The Somali army had been expanding anti-al-Shabaab efforts from beyond
Hirshabelle state, and they were now beginning to strike at al-Shabaab bases in
Galmudug
Galmudug (; ), officially Galmudug State of Somalia (), is a States and regions of Somalia, Federal Member State in central Somalia, with its capital at Dhusamareb. It is bordered to the north by the Puntland state of Somalia, to the west by the S ...
state. The army cooperated with local Gedir clan militias and drone strikes from the United States in Mudug, seizing the towns of
Harardhere and
Galcad in January as a result. Al-Shabaab was reported to begin increasing its usage of IEDs when fighting, while also targeting civilians for attacks. The group was also reported to be targeting drug dealers and robbers in Mogadishu, in an apparent drive to gain support for the group in the city.
Fighting broke out between the
Khatumo State
SSC-Khaatumo (), officially known as the SSC-Khaatumo State of Somalia (), is a federal member state in northern Somalia, with its capital in Las Anod. It includes parts of the Sool, Sanaag and Cayn regions (combined under the acronym "SSC") ...
and
Somaliland
Somaliland, officially the Republic of Somaliland, is an List of states with limited recognition, unrecognised country in the Horn of Africa. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden and bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, E ...
leading to the
2023 Las Anod conflict where Khatumo Forces capture nearly all military bases and towns in the Sool region but fighting is still ongoing.
In March it was reported that al-Shabaab has lost one third of its territory in Somalia, since the government launched its major military offensive in August 2022.
On 26 March the president of Somalia declared the start of the second phase of the offensive operations.
On 26 May, al-Shabaab launched a deadly attack on the Buulo Mareer military base using Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices and suicide bombers. Ugandan troops discovered the bodies of 54 Ugandan soldiers who were killed in the attack. The discovery took place as the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) regained control of the forward operating base in Buulo Mareer, about 120 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, State House Uganda said via Twitter Saturday.
Armed clashes was reported in the town of Masagaway after an al-Shabaab attack on a military base there on 30 May. The government claimed to have ambushed the al-Shabaab contingent and inflicted casualties upon them after they withdrew from their attack on the base.
The
African Union
The African Union (AU) is a continental union of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the African Union. The b ...
has been giving up bases to the
Somali Armed Forces since June, the African Union (AU) is winding down its peacekeeping mission in the country and AU soldiers will finally depart at the end of 2024, leading to concern of what will happen next.
A decisive turning point in the war came during the
Battle of Osweyne in late August 2023, where the SNA suffered a severe defeat and retreated from hard fought regions.
On 17 September it was reported that 20-plus
Ethiopian National Defense Force
The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) () is the combined military force of Ethiopia. ENDF is consisted of 10 command forces which is controlled by the Chief of General Staff.
Commanders of the Military
Supreme Commander – Taye At ...
(ENDF) fighters were killed/captured by al-Shabaab fighters in Rabdhure, Bakool .
On 29 September a
suicide bomber exploded a bomb in a tea shop in Mogadishu.
On 26 November, the United Nations announced that they are lifting the arms
embargo
Economic sanctions or embargoes are commercial and financial penalties applied by states or institutions against states, groups, or individuals. Economic sanctions are a form of coercion that attempts to get an actor to change its behavior throu ...
on
Somalia
Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...
next month.
2024
On 10 January, al-Shabaab militants attacked a UN helicopter and forced it to make an emergency landing. They then burned the helicopter and seized most of the crew of nine people. One person was killed and two others were unaccounted for after the incident.
On 6 February,
four bombings inside
Bakaara Market in the Somali capital killed at least ten people and injured about fifteen others. On 11 February, al-Shabaab attacked the General Gordon Military Base in the Somali capital Mogadishu, resulting in deaths of four Emirati troops and one Bahraini military officer.
In the last quarter of 2023, the Somali National Army captured new localities in south
Mudug
Mudug () is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in north-central Somalia. The population of Mudug is 131,455 as of 2005.
Overview
Physiographically, Mudug is bordered to the west by Ethiopia, to the north and south by the Somali regions of Nu ...
, but by the end of February 2024, they had been given back up for
al-Shabaab to reoccupy. In north
Galmudug
Galmudug (; ), officially Galmudug State of Somalia (), is a States and regions of Somalia, Federal Member State in central Somalia, with its capital at Dhusamareb. It is bordered to the north by the Puntland state of Somalia, to the west by the S ...
, the SNA secured the villages to support the
Ma'awisley clan militia present. But when Ma'awisley withdrew following a land dispute between their leadership and Somali president
Hassan Sheikh, the SNA was too weak to remain on its own, and was forced to withdraw as well. In other localities however, the reasons for losses were different as SNA troops were in sufficient numbers to hold the town. Discipline was lacking, many soldiers lost their nerve and broke ranks during a battle with insurgents.
On 14 March, militants
attacked and sieged the SYL Hotel in Mogadishu.
On 13 July, At least eight people are killed and twenty-one others injured in a shootout between security forces and inmates in a Mogadishu prison during an escape attempt. The prisoners who attempted to escape were members of al-Shabaab. On 14 July, 10 people were injured in a cafe due to a car bombing done by al-Shabaab.
On 2 August, 37 people were killed by an al-Shabaab suicide bomber at Lido Beach.
On 18 October, seven were killed in another café bombing in Mogadishu.
Throughout late October, Somalia's spy agency killed 40 al-Shabaab militants and injured many others.
2025
On 8 January 2025, the Puntland armed forces greatly increased their fight against Islamic State militants in the
Al Miskat mountain range, located in the
Bari region. These forces said they are working to block all escape routes and are closing in on areas where the militants are hiding. Puntland's Counter-Terrorism Operation said their troops are surrounding the Al Miskat mountains and moving into the suspected hideouts. Security operations are also happening in nearby areas like Hamure. The security force is also talked to local people and asked them to not collaborate with the militants. They warned residents to stay away from the group before it was too late.
On 9 January 2025,
Puntland forces carry out
drone strikes on
Islamic State
The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Daesh, is a transnational Salafi jihadism, Salafi jihadist organization and unrecognized quasi-state. IS ...
targets in the
Cal Miskaad mountains near
Balidhidhin District of
Bari
Bari ( ; ; ; ) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia Regions of Italy, region, on the Adriatic Sea in southern Italy. It is the first most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy. It is a port and ...
, The counterterrorism claimed that they killed several militants.
On 20 February 2025, al-Shabaab
launched attacks on several villages and military bases in the
Middle Shabelle and
Hiran region causing the deaths of 130 al-Shabaab militants and dozens of Somali soldiers.
On 18 March 2025,
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somali language, Somali: ''Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud''; ; born 29 November 1955) is a Somali politician serving as the president of Somalia since 15 May 2022. He previously held the office from 2012 to 2017.
Hassan was previo ...
, president of
Somalia
Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...
, was targeted by
al-Shabaab in a
roadside bombing assassination attempt using improvised explosive devices near Villa Somalia while his entourage headed to
Aden Adde International Airport in
Mogadishu
Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
. Hassan survived the attack
On 16 April 2025, al-Shabaab captured the town of Adan Yabaal from government forces. The town has strategic military significance and serves as a critical logistical hub connecting Hirshabelle state to the neighboring central state of Galmudug.
Second security threat
On 4 March 2025, the
U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu has warned of imminent attack threats from al-Shabaab in
Mogadishu
Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
including at
Aden Adde International Airport. Embassy personnel movements are suspended. The embassy also warned that militant groups continue to plan kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks across the country.
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines (Turkish language, Turkish: ''Türk Hava Yolları''), or legally Türk Hava Yolları Anonim Ortaklığı, is the flag carrier of Turkey. , it operates scheduled services to 352 destinations (including cargo) in Europe, Asia, Oce ...
and
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. (, ''al-Qaṭariyya''), operating as Qatar Airways, is the flag carrier of Qatar. Headquartered in the Qatar Airways Tower in Doha, the airline operates a hub-and-spoke network, flying to over 170 internatio ...
halted all flights to Mogadishu following security warnings from the U.S. Embassy about potential terrorist attacks targeting
Mogadishu Airport.
Foreign involvement
African Union Mission
The African Union has deployed more than 16,000 soldiers to Somalia, mandated to support transitional governmental structures, implement a national security plan, train the Somali security forces, and assist in creating a secure environment for the delivery of
humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material and Humanitarian Logistics, logistic assistance, usually in the short-term, to people in need. Among the people in need are the homelessness, homeless, refugees, and victims of natural disasters, wars, and famines. Th ...
.
As part of its duties, AMISOM also supports the
Transitional Federal Government
The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) (, , ) was internationally recognized as a provisional government of the Somalia from 14 October 2004 until 20 August 2012. It was established in Nairobi, Kenya, following the Transitional National Govern ...
's forces in their battle against al-Shabaab militants.
AMISOM was created by the African Union's
Peace and Security Council on 19 January 2007 with an initial six-month mandate.
On 21 February 2007 the
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, an ...
approved the mission's mandate.
Subsequent six-monthly renewals of AMISOM's mandate by the African Union Peace and Security Council have also been authorised by the United Nations Security Council.
AMISOM's UN mandate was extended for a further six months in August 2008 by UNSCR 1831.
The AMISOM's mandate has been extended each period that it has been up for review. It is now set to be reviewed again on 16 January 2013.
On 12 November 2013, the UN Security Council adopted SC Resolution 2124 (2013) extending AMISOM's mandate from 28 February 2014 to 31 October 2014. Acting upon the force's request, the resolution also increases AMISOM's maximum authorized strength from 17,731 to 22,126 troops.
The force, which has fought throughout the country, has reportedly suffered significant casualties during their mission, although no precise figures have been issued by the contributing countries.
In March 2022, the 14-year-long AMISOM mission changed its name to the
African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). It was announced that it was hoped that ATMIS's mandate would end in 2024. ATMIS consists of troops from the
East Africa
East Africa, also known as Eastern Africa or the East of Africa, is a region at the eastern edge of the Africa, African continent, distinguished by its unique geographical, historical, and cultural landscape. Defined in varying scopes, the regi ...
n nations of
Burundi
Burundi, officially the Republic of Burundi, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is located in the Great Rift Valley at the junction between the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa, with a population of over 14 million peop ...
,
Djibouti
Djibouti, officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east. The country has an area ...
,
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Ken ...
,
Kenya
Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
, and
Uganda
Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...
.
United States and United Nations

The
Government of Somalia has requested U.S. involvement multiple times.
The
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a United Nations agency tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development. The UNDP emphasizes on developing local capacity towar ...
for Somalia spends about $50 million each year, though these funds are not related to military aid. Instead these programs, such as Employment Generation for Early Recovery (EGER). As of October 2010, the US State Department noted the United States directly obligated over $229 million to support AMISOM, and paid for other UN assistance for the mission indirectly through its obligations to the international body.
In January 2013, the US announced that it was set to exchange diplomatic notes with the new central government of Somalia, re-establishing official ties with the country for the first time in 20 years. According to the
Department of State
The United States Department of State (DOS), or simply the State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs ...
, the decision was made in recognition of the significant progress that the Somali authorities had achieved on both the political and war fronts. The move is expected to grant the Somali government access to new sources of development funds from American agencies as well as international bodies like the
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a major financial agency of the United Nations, and an international financial institution funded by 191 member countries, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It is regarded as the global lender of las ...
and
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and Grant (money), grants to the governments of Least developed countries, low- and Developing country, middle-income countries for the purposes of economic development ...
, thereby facilitating the ongoing reconstruction process.
In addition to diplomatic ties; roughly 50 US special operations troops operate at undisclosed locations across southern Somalia advising and assisting, Kenyan, Somali and Ugandan forces in their fight against al-Shabaab.
At the behest of the Somali and American federal governments, among other international actors, the
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, an ...
unanimously approved
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2093 during its 6 March 2013 meeting to suspend the 21-year
arms embargo
An arms embargo is a restriction or a set of sanctions that applies either solely to weaponry or also to "dual-use technology." An arms embargo may serve one or more purposes:
* to signal disapproval of the behavior of a certain actor
* to maintain ...
on Somalia. The endorsement officially lifts the purchase ban on light weapons for a provisional period of one year, but retains certain restrictions on the procurement of heavy arms such as surface-to-air missiles, howitzers and cannons.
On 9 April 2013, the US government likewise approved the provision of defense articles and services by the American authorities to the Somali Federal Government.
At the request of the Somali authorities and
AMISOM
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was a Multinational force formed by the African Union. The operation deployed to Somalia soon after the Islamic Courts Union was deposed by troops from Ethiopia during War in Somalia (2006–2009), ...
, the US military in late 2013 also established a small team of advisers in Mogadishu to provide consultative and planning support to the allied forces.
The United Kingdom is also involved in combating Islamist extremists in Somalia. Since 2009, members of the
Special Air Service
The Special Air Service (SAS) is a special forces unit of the British Army. It was founded as a regiment in 1941 by David Stirling, and in 1950 it was reconstituted as a corps. The unit specialises in a number of roles including counter-terr ...
and the
Special Reconnaissance Regiment have conducted counter-terrorist operations in Somalia from
Camp Lemonnier
Camp Lemonnier is a United States Naval Expeditionary Base, situated next to Djibouti–Ambouli International Airport in Djibouti City, and home to the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). ...
; they have watched Britons believed to be travelling to Somalia for terrorist training and have worked with US counterparts observing and "targeting" local suspects. They have also been carrying out a similar role in Yemen. In May 2016, it was reported that 70
UK military personnel have arrived in Somalia to counter al-Shabaab as part of a UN peacekeeping mission; ten soldiers will offer medical, engineering and logistical support to AMISOM. Personnel will also be sent to South Sudan to carry out a similar role.
On 16 October 2016, ''The New York Times'' reported that American officials said the
White House
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
had quietly broadened the president's authority for the use of force in Somalia by allowing airstrikes to protect American and African troops as they combat fighters from al-Shabaab. About 200 to 300 American Special Operations troops work with soldiers from Somalia and other African nations like Kenya and Uganda to carry out more than a half-dozen raids per month, according to senior American military officials. The operations are a combination of ground raids and drone strikes.
SEAL Team 6 has been heavily involved in many of these operations. American military officials said once ground operations are complete, American troops working with Somali forces often interrogate prisoners at temporary screening facilities, including one in
Puntland
Puntland is an autonomous state that considers itself to be part of Somalia, despite not accepting the legitimacy of Somalia's current governing administration. It was formed in 1998, and was a federal member state of Somalia from its fou ...
, before the detainees are transferred to more permanent Somali-run prisons. The Pentagon has only acknowledged a small fraction of these operations, announcing 13 ground raids and airstrikes so far in 2016 (three of which took place in September)—up from five in 2015; according to data compiled by New America (a Washington
think tank
A think tank, or public policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governme ...
) the strikes have killed about 25 civilians and 200 people suspected of being militants. At a
former Russian fighter jet base in Baledogle, US Marines and private contractors are working to build up a Somali military unit designed to combat al-Shabaab throughout the country.
On 30 March 2017, CNN reported that
US President
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed For ...
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
signed off a decision by the White House which approved a new strategy granting AFRICOM the authority to step up counterterrorism strikes in Somalia; under the new strategy, the US military will now be able to conduct precision airstrikes in support of the Somalia National Army and AMISOM forces. The new authorization designates some regions of Somalia an "area of active hostilities," freeing counterterrorism strikes there from restrictions governing other strikes outside the areas; an official said that the designated areas will not include Mogadishu and Puntland. Captain Jeff Davis, a Pentagon Spokesman said that "The additional support provided by this authority will help deny al-Shabaab safe havens from which it could attack US citizens or US interests in the region." Another official said that the legal basis for the new authority is the
2001 AUMF. In mid-April 2017, it was reported that 40 soldiers from the
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) ("Screaming Eagles") is a light infantry division (military), division of the United States Army that specializes in air assault military operation, operations. The 101st is designed to plan, coordinat ...
were deployed to Somalia on 2 April 2017 to improve the capabilities of the Somalia Army in combating Islamist militants. AFRICOM stated that the troops will focus on bolstering the Somali army's logistics capabilities; an AFRICOM spokesman said that "This mission is not associated with teaching counterextremism tactics" and that the Somali government requested the training.
On 16 June 2020,
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Headquartered in New York City, the group investigates and reports on issues including War crime, war crimes, crim ...
revealed the inconsistency in investigation by the US authorities in a 2 February airstrike, which killed one woman. And a 10 March attack that killed five men, including a child.
President Donald Trump ordered the
Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD, or DOD) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and supervising the six U.S. armed services: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, ...
to remove the majority of the 700 US military troops in Somalia from the country in December 2020.
On 16 May 2022, it was announced that President
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...
was reversing President Trump's withdrawal and sending up to 450 ground troops back into Somalia.
Ethiopia
2009

On 16 February, Somali MP
Mohamud Sayid Adan, former Mogadishu mayor
Mohamed Omar Habeeb and local police officer Hassan Dhicisow, were arrested by Ethiopian forces in the town of Dolow in Gedo region.
On 28 May, two Ethiopian soldiers, an Ethiopian civilian, two Somali soldiers, four Somali civilians (working for the government) and four Somali insurgents were killed when insurgents attacked a convoy carrying
Omar Hashi Aden, who was returning from his visit to Ethiopia.
On 31 May, Ethiopian forces launched search and seizure operations in Hiraan, in Kalaberyr village, near Beledweyn.
On 12 June, Ethiopian forces with several battle wagons entered in Balanbal town in Galgudud and set up military bases.
On 14 June, the Ethiopian military said it had come to fight foreign mujahedin which the military described as "foreign enemies of Ethiopia and Somalia" and launched operations to search for them in Balanbal town which they control. Sheik Hassan Ya'qub Ali, head of the information affairs for Islamic administration in
Kisimayo warned the Ethiopians that "there is no candy and dates to eat from here in Somalia. But the men who chased you forcibly from the country are here in Somalia."
The suicide bombing on 18 June targeted a meeting between TFG and Ethiopian commanders.
On 19 June, Ethiopian forces entered Bakool and reached Elberde town. They withdrew after holding talks with local clan elders.
On 22 June, Ethiopian forces started launching search and seizure operations in Kala-beyrka intersection in Hiran region.
The Ethiopian government then announced it would not intervene without an international mandate.
[
On 30 June, Ethiopian forces entered El-gal and Ilka'adde villages which are less than 20 km north of regional capital Beledweyn. Reports from Kala-beyrka intersection say that more extra troops from Ethiopia crossed from the border.
On 4 July, Ethiopians withdrew from their bases in Banabal town in Galgudug.
On 18 July, Ethiopian forces vacated their bases in Yed Village in insurgent-controlled Bakool region.
During the weekend of 29–30 August, Ethiopian forces advanced to Beledweyne, supporting a government offensive on the insurgent part of, Beledweyne. They withdrew on 31 August. The assault on Beledweyne by government forces came as the TFG governor of Hiraan (belonging to Sharif Ahmed's ARS-Djibouti faction), Sheikh Abdirahman Ibrahim Ma'ow, which controls the other part of Beledweyne, withdrew his administration's support for the TFG.
]
2010
19 March, Mohammed wali Odowa, spokesman of Hizbul Islam's Hiraan administration in Beledweyne, threatened that Hizbul Islam forces would attack any Ethiopian forces which entered Hizbul Islam controlled territories in Hiraan.
20 May, Ethiopian forces seized control of the previously al-Shabaab held towns of Yeed and Elbarde, in Bakool region. al-Shabaab had captured Elbarde from the TFG on 20 April.
On 18 July, Ethiopian forces withdrew from all their bases in Hiraan and Bakool regions. Ethiopian forces had held these territories for two months, during which they clashed several times with al-Shabaab forces which control most of Hiraan. Before they withdrew they released over 20 lorries which used to travel between the South and Central regions of Somalia.
On 1 August, 27,000 Ethiopian troops entered Somalia through the border town of Dolo, where 6,000 Ethiopian forces are based. They advanced deep into Gedo region in the direction of the towns of Beledehawa and Elwak, accompanied by militia of pro-Ethiopian, Somali fraction leaders. In Hiraan, Ethiopian forces which entered along with TFG-forces exchanged fire with al-Shabaab militants and advanced until the Kalaber junction, near Beledweyne. The Ethiopian troops then withdrew to Ferfer.
On 29 August, there was a second Ethiopian incursion. A large number of Ethiopian forces in military vehicles, accompanied by highly trained TFG forces, entered several villages in al-Shabaab controlled Hiraan region. This came at a time when al-Shabaab militants regularly ventured near the border. Hussein Abdallah, an ASWJ loyalist claimed that the movements were a preliminary action to signal that Ethiopian authorities are able of weakening the Islamist insurgents, to al-Shabaab's leadership.
On 1 September, Ethiopian forces moved deeper into Gedo region, via Dolow, entering the TFG-held village of Yeed. TFG officials in the region reported they were planning to capture the entire Bay and Bakool regions from al-Shabaab.[Ethiopian troops cross into Somalia again](_blank)
1 September 2010
On 30 December, TFG forces clashed with Ethiopian troops in the Jawil district, near Beledweyne, after Ethiopian forces took a TFG soldier into custody. One TFG soldier and one civilian were injured in the clashes.
2011
On 3 January, Ahlu Sunna Waljamaa official Sheikh Abdi Badel Sheikh Abdullahi, complained about Ethiopian forces in the town of Dolo, in Gedo region. The town is controlled by 300 ASWJ and TFG forces, but it is also home to several Ethiopian military bases. Ethiopian forces had called on ASWJ fighters in the district to lay down their arms. According to a TFG official, three Ethiopian commanders had then come to the town of Dolo and ordered TFG forces to disarm. Ethiopian troops then disarmed a number of TFG and ASWJ forces. Sheikh Abdullahi alleged that Ethiopian forces were doing this because they were outraged by ASWJ's military capability.
On 19 November, eyewitness reported large number of Ethiopian troops crossing into Somalia. Ethiopian authorities denied this.
After a multinational conference held on 25 November in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa (; ,) is the capital city of Ethiopia, as well as the regional state of Oromia. With an estimated population of 2,739,551 inhabitants as of the 2007 census, it is the largest city in the country and the List of cities in Africa b ...
, IGAD announced that the Ethiopian government had agreed to support the allied forces' campaign against al-Shabaab.
On 31 December 2011, the Transitional Federal Government soldiers and around 3,000 allied Ethiopian army troops attacked Beledweyne
Beledweyne (, ) is a city in central Somalia. Beledweyne District is the capital city of the Hiran region.
The city is situated in the Shebelle Valley riverine near the Ethiopian border, 210 miles (345 km) north of Mogadishu. Beledweyne ...
in the early morning, capturing it after hours of fighting. They later took control of Baidoa
Baidoa (, Somali (Af-Maxaa): , ) is the largest city of the South West State of Somalia.
Between 2002 and 2014, Baidoa was the capital of the South West State. In 2014, the capital was changed to Barawa.
Overview
Baydhabo is the main hub of ...
, among other areas.
2012
On 22 October 2012, the Spokesman of African Union Mission to Somalia
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was a Multinational force formed by the African Union. The operation deployed to Somalia soon after the Islamic Courts Union was deposed by troops from Ethiopia during a large scale invasion in l ...
(AMISOM) Col. Ali Aden Humed speaking to journalists in Mogadishu on Saturday said that Ethiopian forces present in parts of the regions of Somalia will soon pull out from the country.
The spokesman said AMISOM troops will take over the areas where Ethiopian forces are holding at the moment. "The plan by AMISOM is to take over the positions held by Ethiopian forces in parts of the regions of the country, Ethiopian troops will soon retreat back to their position along Somalia border" said Col. Ali Aden Humed.
2013
In 2013, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom announced that Ethiopian troops were pulling out of Baidoa as the situation on the ground was relatively stable and the Somali military and AMISOM forces were now able to assume security duties. The withdrawal was well planned and coordinated. Adhanom added that a pullout could have occurred twelve months earlier, but the allied forces were at the time unprepared to take over, so the move was postponed. Additionally, he asserted that Eritrea was attempting to destabilize Somalia and environs, and that the international community should take the situation seriously since Eritrea was also still allegedly supporting al-Shabaab. Following the Westgate shooting in Nairobi by al-Shabaab operatives, the Ethiopian government halted its plans to withdraw completely out of Somalia. In November 2013, the Ethiopian government announced that it would integrate its troops that are deployed in Somalia into the AMISOM multinational force. Somalia's Foreign Minister Fowzia Haji Yussuf welcomed the decision, stating that the move would galvanize AMISOM's campaign against the insurgent group. She also emphasized the importance of collaboration between Somalia and Ethiopia. The Ethiopian authorities' announcement came a month after a failed October bombing attempt by al-Shabaab in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa (; ,) is the capital city of Ethiopia, as well as the regional state of Oromia. With an estimated population of 2,739,551 inhabitants as of the 2007 census, it is the largest city in the country and the List of cities in Africa b ...
, and a week after Ethiopia received a renewed terrorism threat from the insurgent group. According to Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ambassador Dina Mufti, the Ethiopian military's decision to join AMISOM is intended to render the peacekeeping operation more secure. Analysts also suggested that the move was primarily motivated by financial considerations, with the Ethiopian forces' operational costs now slated to be under AMISOM's allowance budget. It is believed that the Ethiopian military's long experience in Somali territory, its equipment such as helicopters, and the potential for closer coordination will help the allied forces advance their territorial gains. On the other hand, there is a certain amount of unease following Ethiopia's entry into AMISOM given local animosity originating from Ethiopia's heavy handed intervention in 2006. There are also fears that al-Shabaab could use Somali animosity towards Ethiopia as a rallying cry and to recruit more members. It is also believed that some Ethiopian troops in Somalia operate independently from AMISOM.
2014
In December 2014, the Ethiopian government offered to replace the last AMISOM contingent from Sierra Leone with fresh Ethiopian military reinforcements.
2020
On 4 May 2020, an East African Express Airways Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia
The Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia is a twin-turboprop 30-passenger regional airliner, commuter airliner designed and manufactured by the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer.
The EMB 120 began development during 1974. While initially conceived as ...
airliner on an air charter
Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft (i.e., chartering) as opposed to individual aircraft seats (i.e., purchasing a ticket through a traditional airline).
Regulation
Charter – also called air taxi or ad hoc – flight ...
flight delivering COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
relief supplies crashed on approach to Berdale, Somalia, killing all 2 crew and 4 non-revenue passengers on board. On 10 May, a leaked AMISOM report alleged that ground troops of the Ethiopian National Defense Force operating outside AMISOM authority had shot the aircraft down, mistakenly believing it was undertaking a suicide attack. This allegation ignited renewed controversy over unauthorized Ethiopian incursions into Somalia to fight al-Shabaab. Ethiopian, Kenyan and Somali authorities have initiated a joint investigation of the accident.
2021
Kenya
Recruitment from Kenya
According to press reports, Somali and Kenyan government officials have recruited and trained Somali refugees in Kenya and Kenyan nationals who are ethnic Somalis to fight insurgents in Somalia. However, the Somali chief of military staff and spokesmen from the Kenyan government have denied this.
2010 Kenya–al-Shabaab border clash
On 20 July 2010 border clashes between Kenya and al-Shabaab insurgents occurred when gunmen from the militia attacked a Kenyan border patrol along the border area in Liboi, Lagdera. There was a subsequent fierce exchange of fire between the two sides leading to the deaths of 2 militia and the wounding of one Kenyan officer.[Ali, Noor]
2 Kenyan forces, al-Shabaab rebels clash on border
, Reuters, 20 July 2010. Hundreds of security personnel were later deployed to the border following the clash and because of continued fighting between two militia groups in the neighbouring town of Dobley, Somalia. al-Shabaab had previously claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing in Uganda in July.[
]
Operation Linda Nchi
In October 2011, the Kenya Defence Forces began Operation Linda Nchi against al-Shabaab in southern Somalia. The mission was officially led by the Somali armed forces, with the Kenyan armed forces providing supporting role. In early June 2012, Kenyan forces were formally integrated into AMISOM.
Camp Simba attack
On 5 January 2020, al-Shabaab militants launched an attack at on Camp Simba at Manda Air Strip used by Kenyan and US troops in Lamu County
Lamu County is a county in Kenya located along the North Coast of the country and is one of the six Coastal Counties in Kenya. Its capital is the town of Lamu. It borders Tana River County to the southwest, Garissa County to the north, Som ...
, Kenya, the attack was repelled, leaving three American nationals killed; one serviceman and two contractors. Four militants died in the attack and five were arrested. Moreover, six aircraft and land vehicles were destroyed or damaged at the airstrip. Some of the airframes lost included a De Havilland Canada Dash 8
The De Havilland Canada DHC-8, commonly known as the Dash 8, is a series of turboprop-powered regional airliners, introduced by de Havilland Canada (DHC) in 1984. DHC was bought by Boeing in 1986, then by Bombardier in 1992, then by Longv ...
and two helicopters.
Piracy
Government officials from the Galmudug
Galmudug (; ), officially Galmudug State of Somalia (), is a States and regions of Somalia, Federal Member State in central Somalia, with its capital at Dhusamareb. It is bordered to the north by the Puntland state of Somalia, to the west by the S ...
administration in the north-central Hobyo district also reportedly attempted to use pirate gangs as a bulwark against Islamist insurgents from southern Somalia's conflict zones. Other pirates are alleged to have reached agreements of their own with the Islamist groups, although a senior commander from the Hizbul Islam
Hizbul Islam ("Islamic Party"), also known as Hizbul Islaami, Hisbi Islam, or Hezb-ul Islam, was a Somali Islamist group formed after four Islamist groups merged to oppose the new Transitional Federal Government administration of President S ...
militia vowed to eradicate piracy by imposing sharia law
Sharia, Sharī'ah, Shari'a, or Shariah () is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition based on scriptures of Islam, particularly the Qur'an and hadith. In Islamic terminology ''sharīʿah'' refers to immutable, inta ...
when his group briefly took control of Harardhere in May 2010 and drove out the local pirates.
See also
* American military intervention in Somalia (2007–present)
* Democracy in Africa
Democracy in Africa is measured according to various definitions of democracy by a variety of indexes, such as V-Dem Democracy indices, and Democracy Index by The Economist.
The top 3 African countries ranked by V-Dem Democracy indices Elector ...
* Elections in Somalia
* Elections in Somaliland
Somaliland elects on national level a head of state (the president) and a legislature. The president is elected by the people for a five-year term. The Parliament (''Baarlamaanka'') has two chambers. The House of Representatives (''Golaha Wak ...
* List of wars: 2003–present
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Somali Civil War (2009-present)
*
2000s in Somalia
2010s in Somalia
2020s in Somalia
2000s conflicts
2010s conflicts
2020s conflicts
Wars involving Burundi
Wars involving Djibouti
Wars involving Ethiopia
Wars involving France
Wars involving Guinea
Wars involving Kenya
Wars involving Somalia
Wars involving Uganda
Wars involving the United States
Wars involving Turkey
Terrorism in Somalia
Islamic terrorism in Somalia