US Suspends Funding for Counterterrorism in Africa and Middle East

 The Washington Post published on 16 February 2025 an article titled "Trump's Global Funding Freeze Leaves Anti-terror Programs in Limbo" by Katharine Houreld, Rachel Carson, Susannah George, and Mustafa Salim.  

The Trump administration's suspension of funding for the Anti-Terrorism Assistance program is leaving ongoing training programs in countries like Somalia in limbo.  This provides an opportunity for terrorist groups such as al-Shabaab to step up their efforts to topple legitimate governments.  

Somalia Faces a Year of Crises

 The New York Times published on 27 February 2024 an article titled "Hunger, Terrorism and the Threat of War: Somalia's Year of Crises" by Abdi Latif Dahir and Brian Otieno.  

The article suggests that drought, the continuing challenge of the al-Shabaab terrorist group, and possible conflict with Ethiopia following its Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland could create a difficult year for Somalia.

Podcast on Somalia and US Role

 The International Crisis Group posted on 6 November 2023 a 38-minute podcast titled "Somalia's Stalling Fight against Al-Shabaab and America's Wobbly Strategy" with Omar Mahmood and Sarah Harrison.

Somali government advances against al-Shabab stalled during the summer and even experienced some reverses.  A military victory looks more distant.  The podcast discusses US policy towards Somalia and frustration over the apparent absence of US attention to an end game.  

A New Strategy for US Policy in Somalia

 Foreign Affairs published on 28 September 2023 an article titled "America Needs a New Strategy in Somalia: A Narrow Focus on Counterterrorism Won't Bring Peace" by Sarah Harrison, International Crisis Group.  

The author argues that US policy in Somalia should be based on support for stabilization and reconciliation, not solely on counterterrorism.  The negotiation part is especially tricky given the challenges posed by al-Shabaab and different views on how to respond to the group.  

Combatting Terrorism in Somalia

 The Wall Street Journal published on 27 September 2023 an article titled "A Rare Success Emerges in the War on Terror" by Michael M. Phillips.

Somalia has become a surprising bright spot in the battle against terrorism.  The American-trained 2,000 member Somali special forces brigade known as Danab and clan militias are on the offensive against terrorism in the country.  

Somali Push to Defeat Al-Shabaab Terrorist Group

 Foreign Policy published on 23 August 2023 an article titled "The Somali Underdogs Taking on Terrorists" by Jack Detsch.  

An elite Somali counterterrorism force trained by the United States and known as Danab is stepping up attacks on the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab terrorist organization in Somalia.  The article describes the US role in the conflict.  

US Counterterrorism Strategy in Somalia

 The International Crisis Group just published a visual explanation titled "The U.S. Containment Strategy in Somalia."

The visual provides background for US counterterrorism efforts in Somalia and concludes that US strategy is to contain the al-Shabaab jihadist insurgency.  The US effort centers around the use of the Baledogle Air Base, which is illustrated with satellite pictures.  

Rebalancing US Policy in Somalia

 The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 27 June 2023 a lengthy analysis titled "Out of the Box: How to Rebalance U.S. Somalia Policy."

The ICG argues that the United States should rebalance its policy in Somalia by increasing stabilization assistance and more effectively help Somalia address political rifts impeding conflict resolution.  The ICG also suggests Washington should prepare for the possibility of negotiations between Mogadishu and al-Shabaab.  

Podcast on US Security Engagement in Somalia

 The American Academy of Diplomacy posted a 40 minute podcast on Somalia with Thomas Waldhauser, commander of US Africa Command from 2016-2019, and Donald Yamamoto, US ambassador to Somalia from 2018-2021.

The general and the ambassador discuss the development and evolution of U.S. security engagement in Somalia in recent years.  

View of Somalia's Campaign Against Al-Shabaab

 The International Crisis Group (ICG) posted on 24 March 2023 a 42-minute podcast titled "Somalia's Latest Battles Against Al-Shabaab" with Richard Atwood speaking to Omar Mahmood, ICG's senior analyst for East Africa.

The podcast reports that the Somali National Army's campaign, mostly in central Somalia, has reversed some of al-Shabaab's gains of the past few years, forcing the militants out of several areas, including some important towns.  Al-Shabaab continues to mount resistance in parts of central Somalia and still holds much of southern Somalia.  In recaptured areas, the government must ensure disputes among clans do not flare up again and demonstrate that the Somali government can deliver aid and over time reestablish services like health and education.  The al-Qaeda-linked insurgency has weathered previous offensives only to bounce back.  

Evaluation of US Security Assistance in Somalia

 The Stimson Center published on 20 March 2023 an analysis titled "US Security Assistance to Somalia" by Elias Yousif.  

Between 2010 and 2020, the United States provided more than $500 million in direct security assistance to Somali forces and spent $2.5 billion on security assistance for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).  Despite recent Somali government successes on the battlefield, the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab organization has proven to be both adaptable and resilient.  

Sustaining Gains against Al-Shabaab in Somalia

 The International Crisis Group published on 21 March 2023 an analysis titled "Sustaining Gains in Somalia's Offensive against Al-Shabaab."

The analysis discusses gains made by the government of Somalia against al-Shabaab and steps it should take to reestablish a presence in regions that al-Shabaab controlled for a number of years.  

US Special Forces Train Somali Soldiers in Battle Against Al-Shabaab

 The New York Times published on 27 February 2023 an article titled "U.S. Commandos Advise Somalis in Fight Against Qaeda Branch" by Eric Schmitt.

U.S. Special Operations forces have been training Somali soldiers in the battle against the al-Shabaab terrorist group.  This article, which includes numerous pictures, reviews U.S. efforts to counter al-Shabaab since 2014.  

Security Sector Reform in Somalia

 The Heritage Institute published in January 2023 a report titled "Security Sector Reform in Somalia: Challenges and Opportunities" by Paul D. Williams and Afyare Elmi.

The report provides an overview of the current state of security reform in Somalia and assesses the different forms of security assistance provided by Somalia's main external partners: the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and Turkey.

Somalia: An Analysis of the Offensive against Al-Shabaab

 CTC Sentinel published in January 2023 an analysis titled "Can Somalia's New Offensive Defeat Al-Shabaab" by Stig Jarle Hansen, Norwegian University of Life Sciences.  

Somali government and regional forces have defeated al-Shabaab forces before only to see them reemerge as strong actors.  The key is to erode al-Shabaab's ability to infiltrate government-controlled areas and its ability to govern, tax, and implement "justice" in these areas.  

Somalia's Challenges in 2023

 Brookings published on 27 January 2023 an analysis titled "Somalia's Challenges in 2023" by Vanda Felbab-Brown. 

The Somali government's major challenges in 2023 will be its response to the ongoing drought and starvation and its handling of the al-Shabaab threat and the anti-al-Shabaab clan uprisings.  

Al-Shabaab vs. the Government in Central Somalia

 Critical Threats posted on 25 January 2023 its "Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update" by Liam Kerr, Kathryn Tyson, and Peter Mills.

This update includes a section dealing with the state of engagement in central Somalia between Somali government forces and those of al-Shabaab.  

Somalia: Intense Al-Shabaab-Somali National Army Fire Fight

 The Associated Press published on 20 January 2023 an article titled "Somalia, Extremists Claim over 100 Killed in Intense Battle" by Omar Faruk.

A 20 January al-Shabaab attack on a Somali National Army base in Galgadud region resulted in more than 100 fighters killed in intense fighting.  

Somalia: Al-Shabaab Under Increased Pressure

 The International Crisis Group posted on 11 January 2023 a 35 minute podcast titled "Somalia's Offensive against Al-Shabaab" with Omar Mahmood and Alan Boswell.

Over the past few months, Somali government forces have consolidated gains against al-Shabaab in a large-scale offensive in central Somalia initiated by local clan militias.  At the same time, the government is confronting a serious drought.  

Somali Counterterrorism: Learning from Past Mistakes

 CTC Sentinel's November/December edition contains an extensive analysis titled "The 2022 Somali Offensive Against Al-Shabaab: Making Enduring Gains Will Require Learning from Previous Failures" by Samira Gaid.  

The experience of the last 15-plus years of counterinsurgency suggests that the gains may only be fleeting unless Somalia takes full ownership of the fight, focuses on winning hearts and minds, receives and coordinates continued U.S. and partner support, makes significant progress in building up its military, addresses the clan rivalries that al-Shabaab has been adept in exploiting, and implements a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy that unifies stakeholders.