{
  "id": "ACM-SOM-SHB",
  "slug": "somalia-al-shabaab",
  "title": "The Somalia Conflict",
  "url": "https://armedconflicts.org/somalia-al-shabaab.html",
  "status": "Active",
  "intensity": "High",
  "region": "Horn of Africa",
  "type": "Insurgency",
  "tracked_since": "2006",
  "revision": "2026-08-05",
  "sources": [
    "ACLED",
    "UCDP",
    "CFR Global Conflict Tracker"
  ],
  "locations": [
    {
      "name": "Mogadishu",
      "type": "city",
      "lat": 2.0469,
      "lon": 45.3182,
      "description": "Somalia's capital and largest city, seat of the Federal Government, which has repeatedly been the target of al-Shabaab bombings and assaults.",
      "control": "Federal Government of Somalia",
      "source": "Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker",
      "source_url": "https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/al-shabab-somalia",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kismayo",
      "type": "port",
      "lat": -0.3582,
      "lon": 42.5454,
      "description": "Jubaland's capital and southern Somalia's principal port, al-Shabaab's last major urban stronghold until government-aligned forces retook it in October 2012."
    },
    {
      "name": "Baidoa",
      "type": "city",
      "lat": 3.1167,
      "lon": 43.65,
      "description": "Capital of South West State and a frequent staging point for government and African Union operations against al-Shabaab in the surrounding Bay region."
    },
    {
      "name": "Beledweyne",
      "type": "city",
      "lat": 4.7358,
      "lon": 45.2036,
      "description": "Hiiraan region capital where government forces made significant gains against al-Shabaab during the 2022-2023 central Somalia offensive."
    },
    {
      "name": "Jowhar",
      "type": "city",
      "lat": 2.7809,
      "lon": 45.5005,
      "description": "Capital of Hirshabelle state on the Shabelle River, a farming region contested during successive government offensives against al-Shabaab."
    },
    {
      "name": "Baraawe",
      "type": "port",
      "lat": 1.1141,
      "lon": 44.0296,
      "description": "Historic Indian Ocean port south of Mogadishu that has changed hands between government and al-Shabaab forces over the course of the conflict."
    },
    {
      "name": "Bosaso",
      "type": "port",
      "lat": 11.2842,
      "lon": 49.1816,
      "description": "Puntland's main commercial port on the Gulf of Aden, largely insulated from the al-Shabaab insurgency further south."
    },
    {
      "name": "Garoowe",
      "type": "city",
      "lat": 8.4054,
      "lon": 48.4845,
      "description": "Capital of the semi-autonomous Puntland state in northeastern Somalia."
    }
  ],
  "revision_history": [
    {
      "date": "2026-08-05",
      "change": "Headlines refreshed",
      "source": "News feed"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-07-30",
      "change": "Mogadishu control updated",
      "source": "Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker"
    }
  ]
}