Al-Shabaab

ADF STAFF The Islamic State group in Somalia’s Puntland region reportedly has gained ground from al-Shabaab, its longtime rival. The IS claims to have taken control of the Al Miskaad mountain range. The groups have vied for control of…

ADF STAFF With smoke grenades providing cover, a platoon of Soldiers from Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania exchanged fire with violent extremists and searched a makeshift village, building by building. A Kenyan Air Force F-5E Tiger…

ADF STAFF Somali national forces and Jubaland regional forces in early March killed scores of al-Shabaab fighters during operations in the Lower Juba region. The battles were mainly in Bahar Saaf, Haji, Malaylay, Turdho and other…

ADF STAFF After a six-year lull in major attacks, Somali pirates in December attacked four vessels as international navies relocated from the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea, where they protect maritime traffic from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi…

ADF STAFF The African Union Mission in Somalia in late January completed the second phase of its military drawdown when it handed over nine military bases to the Somali government. The handover coincided with the withdrawal of 3,000…

ADF STAFF The Kenya Defence Forces in January received 6,730 pieces of advanced protective equipment valued at Sh220 million ($1.38 million) from United States Africa Command. The donation included soft body armor, ballistic helmets…

ADF STAFF More than a dozen bombings in and around Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, in November and December 2023 revealed a clear pattern — telecommunications company Hormuud Telecom was being targeted. Bombs killed at least three employees…

ADF STAFF A United Nations helicopter in mid-January was conducting a medical evacuation when a technical problem forced it to make an emergency landing in an area long controlled by al-Shabaab in central Somalia. The terror group…

ADF STAFF The Somali National Army and local forces in late December recaptured Masagaway, a town in central Galmudug State, from al-Shabaab, marking a significant victory in the ongoing war. Masagaway is about 270 kilometers…

ADF STAFF Overall resilience to organized crime has improved across Africa since 2021, but resilience levels are not keeping pace with rising crime. That is according to the Africa Organized Crime Index 2023, compiled by the…