Somali Civil War (2009–present)

Sheikh Omar Iman Abubakr was leader of Hizbul Islam until 26 May 2009, when he stepped down and handed over his position to Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys. Consolidation Period (1995-2006) Situation of the war in Somalia back in mid-July 2009. The 2009–present phase of the Somali Civil War is concentrated in southern Somalia . It began in early February 2009, with the conflict between the forces of the Federal Government of Somalia assisted by African Union peacekeeping troops and various militant Islamist groups and factions. The violence has displaced thousands of people in the southern part of the country. The conflict has also seen sectarian violence between the moderate Sufis ASWJ , and the Islamists Al-Shabaab . In 2011, a coordinated military operation between the Somali military and multinational forces began. The mission was officially led by the Somali army. BBC News - Somalia's al-Shabab leader Aweys 'not surrendering' . UCDP Battle-Related Deaths Dataset v.5-2013, 1989-2012 ; Al-Shabaab battle-related deaths, best est.: 1,253 (in 2008); 1,403 (in 2009); 2,076 (in 2010); 1,917 (in 2011); 2,620 (in 2012) "Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 5, 2010" . Armies of Liberation. 5 December 2010 . UCDP datasets for SNA, ARS/UIC and Al-Shabaab tolls. UCDP non-state conflict tolls "PressTV – 100 killed in Somali bloodshed" .

Sheikh Omar Iman Abubakr was leader of Hizbul Islam until 26 May 2009, when he stepped down and handed over his position to Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys. Consolidation Period (1995-2006) The 2009–present phase of the Somali Civil War is concentrated in southern and central Somalia and portions of north eastern Kenya . It began in early February 2009 with the conflict between the forces of the Federal Government of Somalia , assisted by African Union peacekeeping troops, and various militant groups and factions. The violence has displaced thousands of people in the southern part of the country. The conflict has also seen fighting between the Sufi Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a and Al-Shabaab . It aimed to seize Kismayo and set up a buffer zone against Al-Shabaab. In 2012, Kismayo was captured . In August 2014, the Somali government-led Operation Indian Ocean was launched to clean up the remaining insurgent-held pockets in the countryside. In 2017, the 14 October and 28 October Mogadishu bombings were responsible for the deaths of over 500 individuals and injured more than 400. UCDP Battle-Related Deaths Dataset v.5-2013, 1989–2012 ; Al-Shabaab battle-related deaths, best estimate: 1,403 (in 2009); 2,076 (in 2010); 1,917 (in 2011); 2,620 (in 2012) "Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 5, 2010" . By adding The Casualties of the page "Archived copy" . UCDP datasets for SNA, ARS/UIC and Al-Shabaab tolls.

The Somali Civil War (2009–present) is the ongoing phase of the Somali Civil War which is concentrated in southern and central Somalia . It began in late January 2009 with the conflict mainly between the forces of the Federal Government of Somalia assisted by African Union peacekeeping troops and al-Qaeda aligned al-Shabaab militants. The conflict began in January 2009 when Ethiopian troops withdrew from Somalia, providing al-Shabaab with a power vacuum in the country in which to expand. The Islamists achieved arguably their largest success to date with the capture of Baidoa , the interim capital of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Al-Shabaab continued the conflict against the TFG and AMISOM throughout 2010, enjoying greater success when fighting the government forces. Local support for the organisation continued to grow, helped in part by the relatively successful law enforcement and justice system introduced in areas governed by al-Shabaab. The Kenyan invasion of southern Somalia, Operation Linda Nchi , began in October 2011. The Kenyan government had become concerned by the growing refugee crisis and instability along its porous northern border, and intended to create a buffer-zone to prevent over-spill of the conflict into Kenyan territory. Al-Shabaab came under increasing pressure from the Kenyan intervention, which joined TFG and AMISOM troops in attacking the group. This combination challenged al-Shabaab's position in the south and drove the Islamists from the important port city of Kismayo . Somalia suffered a severe famine during 2011, further weakening al-Shabaab. Despite the growing challenges, al-Shabaab still controls large swarths 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 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. "Rebuilding armies in southern Somalia: What currently should donors realistically aim for?," Conflict, Security & Development (2021): 320, 330-331. "Is the AU mission in Somalia changing in name only?" . 29 March 2022. The New York Times . UCDP datasets for SNA, ARS/UIC and Al-Shabaab tolls.

It began in late January 2009 with the present conflict mainly between the forces of the Federal Government of Somalia assisted by African Union peacekeeping troops and al-Shabaab militants who pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda during 2012. During the insurgency 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 (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 mission ( AMISOM ) 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 and also carried out the Kampala bombings in response to Ugandan support for AMISOM. In August 2011, al-Shabaab withdrew from Mogadishu 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 (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 . In 2014, ENDF troops in Somalia were formerly integrated into AMISOM . 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 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 . "Egypt, Somalia announce strategic partnership to strengthen relations" . 22 February 2026. "Somalia, Egypt sign defense pact to bolster security cooperation" . 22 February 2026. "Mission EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR)" . 23 February 2026. Multiple sources: "Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Defence" . 23 February 2026. "Oman's role in combating piracy lauded Muscat Daily Oman" . 23 February 2026. "Somalia, Saudi Arabia sign agreement on military cooperation" . 22 February 2026. "Somalia, Saudi Arabia sign military cooperation agreement" . 22 February 2026. Multiple sources: "Somalia's al-Shabab Reconstitutes Fighting Force" . 4 January 2026. : CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ( link ) Bacon, Tricia (March 2022). "Africa File: African al Qaeda affiliates praise Taliban takeover" . 4 January 2026. : CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ( link ) Multiple sources: "Exclusive: Eritrea reduces support for al Shabaab – U.N. report" . The New York Times . Somali military officials maintain that Iran has been running secret operations to undermine the United States in Somalia, providing sophisticated weapons, improvised explosive100000 als used to make bombs. The military officials allege that Iran and its proxies are complicit in al-Shabab attacks on the U.S. military, Somali forces, and the African Union Mission in Somalia "The Growing Relationship between Iran and al-Shabab Movement in Somalia: Motives and Potential Consequences" . Tehran has developed an unspoken alliance with Al-Shabaab with the aim of creating a covert intelligence network that will allow it to achieve its goals and support its interests in the Middle East and Africa. The Quds Force has been working with agents and allies, such as Lebanon's Hezbollah and Somalia's Al-Shabaab, which are thought to have recently established relations with the Quds Force. Somali police and finance ministry officials claim the Quds Force uses these networks to smuggle Iranian oil into Somalia and then sell cheap oil across Africa to subvert U.S. sanctions, with some of the proceeds used to support militants in Yemen and Somalia Bartell, Dawn L.; Gray, David H. Global Security Studies . 3 (4): 100– 112. Multiple sources: United Nations Security Council (28 September 2020). "Exclusive: U.N. monitors see arms reaching Somalia from Yemen, Iran" . 4 January 2026. : CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ( link ) "Weapons Flowing to Somali Militants" . 4 January 2026. : CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ( link ) United Nations Security Council (4 March 2021). Qatar has allegedly used al-Shabab to target groups it has identified as opposing its interests, including Somali politicians critical of Doha's role in the country and outside actors like the United Arab Emirates Lynch, Colum (28 November 2012). Qatar's cultivation of African Islamists, principally Somalia's al-Shabab insurgents, has similarly troubled the United States, which has accused the movement of providing a haven for al-Qaeda militants involved in attacks against Americans Mustafa, Awad; Singh, Karam (2 August 2017). Qatari individuals and government representatives are reported to have been in regular contact with Al-Qaeda and its affiliates in Syria, Iraq, Somalia and Yemen in order to exert geopolitical influence Multiple sources: Houreld, Katharine (10 November 2021). Guns supplied by Iran to its Houthi allies in Yemen are being smuggled across the Gulf of Aden to Somalia, according to a Geneva-based think tank, where al Qaeda-linked al Shabab insurgents are battling a weak and divided government. Iran has established links with the jihadist group Al-Shabaab in Somalia to attack United States and other international forces in the African country and the region and to supply arms to Houthi rebels in Yemen Fazeli, Yaghoub (19 July 2020). In addition, increased smuggling activities involving small arms and light weapons are observed between the Houthis and Al-Shabaab, with indications of shared military supplies or a common supplier. ... Houthis are evaluating options to carry out attacks at sea from the Somali coast. To that end, they are strengthening ties with the terrorist group Harakat Al-Shabaab Al-Mujaahidiin (Al-Shabaab). "Treasury Designates al-Shabaab Financial Facilitators" . 20 September 2024. "Waa kuma Feysal Bootaan, taliyihii guutada 12-aad ee Somaliland ee ay gacanta ku dhigeen SSC?" . Multiple sources: "Somali forces, Ma'awisley militia push al-Shabaab back in Hiiraan offensive" . "Somalia's defence minister confirms UAE, Ethiopia airstrikes on Al-Shabaab and ISIS militants" . "Ethiopian Military Carry Out Rare Airstrikes Targeting Al-Shabaab in Somalia" . allAfrica - via MSN . 2025-03-08. The Eastleigh Voice . 2025-01-01. The National . 2024-12-31. The EastAfrican . 2024-08-06. "Rebuilding armies in southern Somalia: What currently should donors realistically aim for?," Conflict, Security & Development (2021): 320, 330-331. Voice of America . 2025-02-25. The Eastleigh Voice . 2025-02-26. The Somali Wire Team . 23 May 2025 . The New York Times . UCDP datasets for SNA, ARS/UIC and Al-Shabaab tolls. Middle East Council on Global Affairs . The Conflict over Lasanod: Longterm and Immediate Factors, and Prospects for Settlement . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).