The Somalia Conflict
A neutral, source-attributed briefing on Somalia's war against al-Shabaab — one of Africa's most persistent insurgencies.
Open the live conflict map → Common questionsLast updated: 2026-08-06 · Evergreen briefing — the live map and the headlines below carry the latest developments.
Key locations: Somalia Conflict
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Mogadishucity2.0469, 45.3182
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 — Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker, as of 2026-07-30
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Kismayoport-0.3582, 42.5454
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.
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Baidoacity3.1167, 43.6500
Capital of South West State and a frequent staging point for government and African Union operations against al-Shabaab in the surrounding Bay region.
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Beledweynecity4.7358, 45.2036
Hiiraan region capital where government forces made significant gains against al-Shabaab during the 2022-2023 central Somalia offensive.
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Jowharcity2.7809, 45.5005
Capital of Hirshabelle state on the Shabelle River, a farming region contested during successive government offensives against al-Shabaab.
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Baraaweport1.1141, 44.0296
Historic Indian Ocean port south of Mogadishu that has changed hands between government and al-Shabaab forces over the course of the conflict.
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Bosasoport11.2842, 49.1816
Puntland's main commercial port on the Gulf of Aden, largely insulated from the al-Shabaab insurgency further south.
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Garoowecity8.4054, 48.4845
Capital of the semi-autonomous Puntland state in northeastern Somalia.
Key facts
- The Somalia Conflict is an insurgency in the Horn of Africa, currently Active (High intensity).
- Somalia's conflict centers on the al-Shabaab insurgency, an al-Qaeda affiliate, opposed by the federal government and African Union forces. Fighting and attacks persist across the south and center.
- Key actors: Somali federal government, Al-Shabaab, African Union forces.
- What's at stake: Counter-terrorism, State-building, Humanitarian impact.
Latest developments
The headlines below are pulled automatically from Google News (the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) and link to primary reporting. They are updated periodically; last refreshed 2026-08-06.
- New Chapter, Same Stalemate: Somalia’s War with Al-Shabaab2026-06-30 — International Crisis Group
- Somalia's Al-Shabaab seize strategic town2026-08-03 — The New Arab
- U.S. Forces Conduct Strike Targeting al-Shabaab2026-07-20 — africom.mil
- Somalia at Risk of Becoming a Jihadist State2025-11-17 — Africa Center for Strategic Studies
- Al-Shabaab’s Tactics Evolving2026-05-05 — Africa Defense Forum
- African Union mission in Somalia in question after US funding to end2026-08-01 — France 24
- Countering Al-Shabaab’s Strategic Pivot: Why Kinetic Strikes Alone Won’t Win in Somalia2026-06-23 — Homeland Security Today
- Al-Shabaab retakes Teedaan in Somalia’s Hiran region2026-08-03 — somaliguardian.com
Overview
Somalia's conflict centers on the al-Shabaab insurgency, an al-Qaeda affiliate, opposed by the federal government and African Union forces. Fighting and attacks persist across the south and center.
This page is an evergreen orientation. Figures and control change continually — confirm the latest with the primary sources listed below.
Key actors
- Somali federal government — and national security forces.
- Al-Shabaab — the al-Qaeda-aligned insurgent group.
- African Union forces — supporting the government.
- Clan militias — local armed groups with shifting alignments.
What's at stake
- Counter-terrorism: containing al-Shabaab's reach.
- State-building: extending government control and services.
- Humanitarian impact: drought, displacement, and food insecurity.
- Regional security: spillover across the Horn of Africa.
Somalia Conflict explained: the key dynamics
One of Africa's most persistent insurgencies
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, has fought the Somali state for well over a decade, controlling rural areas, taxing populations, and carrying out bombings and assaults in the capital and beyond.
Government and African Union offensives
The federal government, backed by African Union forces and local militias, has launched offensives that retook territory, though gains have proven hard to hold.
Drought and displacement
Recurrent drought and food insecurity compound the conflict, driving displacement and humanitarian need across the country.
Timeline: how the somalia conflict unfolded
- 2006–09 — Al-Shabaab emerges and grows into a major insurgent force.
- 2011–12 — African Union and Somali forces push the group out of the capital.
- 2022–23 — A government offensive backed by local militias retakes rural territory.
- 2024–26 — Fighting continues as the group remains resilient in the south and center.
How this conflict is mapped and tracked
Somalia is closely tracked by ACLED, which logs al-Shabaab attacks, government operations, and clan-militia clashes. UCDP records the al-Shabaab dyad. Casualty figures from bombings are reported quickly; rural fighting is harder to verify, so totals are estimates.
For how these datasets differ, see ACLED vs UCDP vs CFR and our guide to conflict-tracking tools.
Conflict with Al-Shabaab in Somalia
Al-Shabaab has waged an insurgency against Somalia's central government since 2006, surviving the loss of its major urban strongholds — including Mogadishu in 2011 — to remain the dominant armed non-state actor in southern and central Somalia. The group controls significant rural territory and imposes taxation on trade and agricultural activity across wide areas.
The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which replaced the AMISOM peacekeeping mission in 2022, is drawing down its troop presence ahead of its 2025 mandate expiration. Somalia's National Army has taken on greater direct responsibility with varying effectiveness. U.S. Africa Command conducts airstrikes against Al-Shabaab leadership and training infrastructure, killing multiple senior commanders since 2020.
Al-Shabaab conducts periodic large-scale attacks on government and military targets in Mogadishu and other cities. The group's financing — from taxation, extortion, and some external support — gives it significant operational resilience. Regional expansion into Ethiopia and Kenya remains a secondary but ongoing threat. An estimated 4,000–6,000 people were killed in Somalia-related violence in 2025.
How it fits the global picture
This is one of 29 active armed conflict theaters tracked on the Global Armed Conflicts Map. Explore related and concurrent conflicts:
Frequently asked questions
Is Somalia at war in 2026?
Somalia faces an active, high-intensity insurgency by al-Shabaab. Confirm the current status with primary sources such as ACLED, UCDP, and the CFR Global Conflict Tracker.
Who is al-Shabaab?
Al-Shabaab is an al-Qaeda-aligned insurgent group fighting the Somali government and African Union forces.
How can I follow it live?
Use the interactive conflict map to see this theater alongside 28 other active conflicts, filter by intensity and region, and open intelligence briefings for each.
Is al-Shabaab connected to ISIS?
Al-Shabaab is aligned with al-Qaeda, not the Islamic State. A small rival Islamic State faction also exists in Somalia, but al-Shabaab is by far the larger force.
Does the Somali government control the country?
The federal government controls major cities with African Union and militia support, but al-Shabaab retains influence over significant rural areas.
Source provenance
- Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker 7 days · as of 2026-07-30
- News feed 0 days · as of 2026-08-06
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-06 | Headlines refreshed | News feed |
| 2026-07-30 | Mogadishu control updated | Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker |