Al-Shabaab

January 6, 2026 | |

Israeli Foreign Minister Follows up Recognition of Somaliland With Historic Visit

Latest Developments Sa’ar in Somaliland: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar traveled to Somaliland on January 6, the first official diplomatic visit since Israel recognized the East African...

January 3, 2026 | Caleb Weiss

Somali intelligence claims death of senior Shabaab leader

On January 1, Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) announced that it and “partner forces” killed senior Shabaab leader Abdullahi Osman, who is better known as Engineer...

December 26, 2025 | Edmund Fitton-Brown |

Airstrikes only first step to stop Islamic terrorists on march through Africa

Thursday’s strikes on ISIS targets in Nigeria signal an intensifying American fight against jihadist expansion across Africa. ISIS maintains a presence across the African continent, but...

December 11, 2025 | Bridget Toomey |

Yemen’s Southern Secessionists on the March

The rapid expansion of the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen is moving the balance of power and may lead to a redrawing of the map. Forces aligned with the STC, which...

November 26, 2025 | Daniel Swift, Susan Soh

How the Nile Water Dispute Threatens Counter-Terrorism Efforts

Egypt and Sudan are unwittingly playing into the hands of the Horn of Africa’s most dangerous terrorist group: al-Shabaab.

October 29, 2025 | Caleb Weiss |

Somalia reports death of Shabaab co-founder in ‘precision airstrike’

The Somali government stated on Monday that another co-founder of Shabaab is dead. The individual, identified as Mahmoud Abdi Hamud, better known as Jaafar Gurey, was reportedly killed in a “precision...

October 5, 2025 | Caleb Weiss |

Shabaab claims prison assault in Mogadishu

Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu was yet again the victim of a brazen terrorist attack conducted by Shabaab, Al Qaeda’s branch for East Africa. Yesterday, at least seven Shabaab gunmen stormed the...

August 21, 2025 | Joe Truzman, Bill Roggio

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula donates aid to Gaza residents

The Shahada News Agency, a propaganda arm of Shabaab, Al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, reported on August 19 that Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) successfully sent aid to needy Palestinians...

July 26, 2025 | Caleb Weiss |

US ground raid captures Islamic State leader in northern Somalia

In a brief statement released on Saturday, the United States military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that its forces had “conducted an operation against the ISIS-Somalia terrorist network...

July 16, 2025 | Bill Roggio, Caleb Weiss

Shabaab seizes two towns in central Somalia

Shabaab, Al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, took control of two towns in central Somalia over the past week. These victories in Moqokori and Tardo, both situated near the borders between the central regions...

March 30, 2025 | Caleb Weiss |

Trump admin ups the tempo of airstrikes against jihadist groups in Somalia

The Trump administration is significantly increasing the rate of American strikes inside Somalia. In just the first three months of President Donald Trump’s second term, his administration has already...

March 7, 2025 | Will Selber |

Recent arrests of Islamic State sympathizers highlight persistent threats to US

In the early morning hours of January 1, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army veteran from Houston, drove his rented truck into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing...

March 3, 2025 | Caleb Weiss |

Shabaab mounts coordinated assault north of Mogadishu

Since at least February 20, Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch for East Africa, has mounted a sizable offensive in southern and central Somalia between the Middle Shabelle and Hiraan regions. In some areas,...

February 12, 2025 | Max Meizlish |

5 Reasons Why South Africa Must Remain on FATF’s Financial Crime Watchlist

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) placed South Africa on its “grey list” in February 2023, identifying critical weaknesses in the country’s ability to combat money laundering and terrorist financing....

February 5, 2025 | Caleb Weiss |

US, UAE conducting airstrikes in northern Somalia

On February 1, the United States launched at least six airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS) in Somalia’s semi-autonomous northern region of Puntland in support of that region’s current military...

January 2, 2025 | |

Ignoring Ethiopian Concerns, Egypt Supplies Troops for African Union Mission in Somalia

Egyptian Troops Participate in African Union Force: Egypt is sending troops to Somalia as a part of the new African Union (AU) mission authorized by the United Nations Security...

December 31, 2024 | Caleb Weiss |

Puntland forces repel Islamic State suicide assault

Earlier today, the Puntland Security Forces (PSF), the armed forces of Somalia’s northern Puntland region, announced thwarting a major assault on a PSF base. Unusually, the attack was not carried out...

December 26, 2024 | Caleb Weiss |

Shabaab announces the death of senior official Mohamed Mire

Earlier today, Shabaab, Al Qaeda’s branch for East Africa, publicly announced the death of Mohamed Mire, one of the group’s senior-most officials. The jihadist group stated that Mire was killed in...

December 18, 2024 | Caleb Weiss |

Jihadi history: Kenyan detainee transferred out of Guantanamo shows the extent of Al Qaeda’s jihad in East Africa

The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced yesterday that longtime Guantanamo Bay detainee Mohammed Abdul Malik Bajabu was transferred to his native Kenya. The Ugandan-born Kenyan national...

December 17, 2024 | Sinan Ciddi, Mariam Wahba

How Turkey Outplayed Egypt and the U.S. In The Horn Of Africa

Ankara’s recent geopolitical gains go beyond just Syria.