African Union

July 23, 2024 | Caleb Weiss |

Shabaab mounts large-scale offensive, Somali Armed Forces claim victory

In a coordinated, multi-pronged offensive, Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch for East Africa, assaulted multiple Somali National Army (SNA) bases across southern Somalia’s Lower Juba region yesterday. Each...

July 1, 2024 | Caleb Weiss |

Shabaab hits Djibouti military base with suicide bombing in central Somalia

Yesterday, Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, took responsibility for a suicide car bombing targeting Djiboutian and Somali troops at a military base in central Somalia. The blast was the 14th...

March 13, 2024 | Caleb Weiss |

Shabaab retakes territory as the U.S. sanctions one of its money laundering networks

Shabaab, al-Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, is steadily undoing progress made by Somali security services in its nearly two year old counter-offensive against the group. Over the last few days, the group...

October 11, 2023 | Bill Roggio |

Shabaab responds to FDD’s Long War Journal study on its suicide bombings

Shabaab, al-Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, responded to FDD’s Long War Journal’s recent study on its suicide bombings through an article published on its Shahada News Agency. While...

October 6, 2023 | Caleb Weiss |

Somalia suffers worst month on record for suicide bombings

In September 2023, Somalia suffered the most suicide bombings (and attempts) in a single month since Shabaab began utilizing the tactic in 2006. At least 14 attempted and successful suicide bombings were...

March 29, 2023 | |

Israel and Nigeria Will Begin Direct Flights

Latest Developments Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev approved a deal on Sunday to allow non-stop flights between Nigeria and Israel. Pending final approval by Israel’s cabinet, the agreement...

October 31, 2022 | Caleb Weiss |

Shabaab kills over 100 people in suicide bombings in Mogadishu

Over the weekend, two suicide car bombings perpetrated by Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, killed at least 100 people at a busy intersection in Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu. Hundreds more...

September 27, 2022 | Caleb Weiss |

Shabaab continues to lose ground in central Somalia

Over the last few weeks, troops from the Somali National Army (SNA), backed by clan-based militias, African Union forces, and U.S. air support, have steadily made progress against Shabaab, al Qaeda’s...

September 26, 2022 | Elaine K. Dezenski, Ambassador John Simon, Allie Dichiara

American Innovation Can Counter China’s BRI

In contrast to the BRI’s “railroads to nowhere,” the United States can reframe global infrastructure development around the citizens who need it the most.

September 21, 2022 | Bill Roggio, Caleb Weiss

U.S. airstrike kills 27 Shabaab fighters in central Somalia

The U.S. military killed 27 members of Shabaab, Al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, in an airstrike in support of a Somali military and African Union offensive in central Somalia. Since June 3, the US has...

October 14, 2021 | David May |

Don’t Let Palestinian Recalcitrance Hold Israeli-African Relations Hostage

Palestinian advocacy groups and certain countries are pressuring the African Union (AU) to rescind Israel’s observer status, when the AU executive council meets this week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia....

April 26, 2019 | Bill Roggio |

Caliphate, interrupted

After being bombarded by four years of U.S. airstrikes, a relentless ground campaign by Kurdish-led U.S. allies, and attacks from Russian, Syri...

October 2, 2018 | Bill Roggio, Alexandra N. Gutowski

US strikes Shabaab on southern Somalia coast

Yesterday, US Forces killed nine Shabaab terrorists in a strike 40 km northeast of Kismayo after the al Qaeda branch attacked Somali forces operating in the area. The strike took place near the town of Jamaame, a former Shabaab safe haven that was liberated by Somali forces just one day eariler.

July 13, 2017 |

Trump Administration Should Uphold Sanctions on Sudan

Tuesday night, President Donald Trump signed an executive order...

June 16, 2015 | FDD Policy Brief

South Africa Flubs its Chance at Justice for Bashir

Suspected war criminals scored a victory Monday as Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir defied a South African judge’s order and...

April 10, 2015 | Daveed Gartenstein-Ross

From Westgate to Garissa, Shabab’s Murderous Wave

Co-written by Nathaniel Barr  After the Somali militant group al-Shabab carried out a gruesome ...

January 23, 2015 | FDD Press Release

FDD Names Board of Advisors to Help Guide Center on Sanctions and Illicit Finance

WASHINGTON – The Foundation for Defense of Democracies today announced 18 experts who will serve as members of the Board of Advisors for its Center on Sanctions and Illicit Finance (CSIF)....

January 5, 2015 | Bill Roggio The Long War Journal

US Targets ‘Senior Leader’ for Shabaab in Southern Somalia

The US military confirmed that its aircraft launched an airstrike against a "senior leader" of al Qaeda's branch in Somalia. "The strike took place in the vicinity of Saakow, Somali...

September 17, 2014 | Daveed Gartenstein-Ross |

The Islamic State’s Vulnerability

As the U.S. military joins with its allies and temporarily-aligned enemies to fulfill President Obama’s promise to “...

February 10, 2014 | Daveed Gartenstein-Ross

The Arab Spring and Al-Qaeda’s Resurgence

Chairman McKeon, Ranking Member Smith, distinguished members of the committee, it is an honor to appear before you to discuss the state of al-Qaeda, its affiliates, and associated groups. My test...