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 2026-06-21.
- Killed walking home from school: why did Somali children become targets of US drone strikes?2026-06-17 — The Guardian
- 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
- Emerging Houthi–Al-Shabaab co-operation and the growing threat to Red Sea shipping2026-05-31 — The Conversation
- Somalia government says it has restored order after fighting in the capital2026-06-05 — Reuters
- Al-Shabab’s shadow state: Why Somalia’s militants are winning legitimacy2025-09-25 — The New Humanitarian
- Somalia reports hit on al-Shabab with ‘international support’2026-04-14 — Al Jazeera
- France welcomes renewal of sanctions against Al-Shabaab2025-12-29 — France ONU
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.
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.