Al-Shabaab Remains a Major Security Challenge for Somalia



MOGADISHU — Al-Shabaab continues to pose one of the most serious security threats to Somalia, maintaining its ability to carry out attacks despite years of military operations by Somali forces and their international partners.

Human Rights Watch has documented continued indiscriminate and targeted attacks by Al-Shabaab against civilians, including the use of improvised explosive devices, suicide bombings, shelling and targeted assassinations. The group also regained some territory that government forces had captured during their 2022 offensive, particularly in central Somalia.

The security threat is unfolding alongside growing political tensions between Somalia’s federal government and several federal member states. Disputes over elections, constitutional reforms and the distribution of political and security powers have repeatedly strained relations between Mogadishu and regional administrations.

Recent fighting in and around Baidoa has highlighted how political divisions can quickly develop into security crises. On September 3, clashes erupted between federal government forces and militias aligned with the former South West state president. Somalia’s Defense Ministry also accused Al-Shabaab of participating in the fighting, although that claim could not be independently verified.

The combination of political fragmentation and an active insurgency creates additional challenges for Somalia’s security institutions. Human Rights Watch has previously reported that the federal government has relied on clan militias in military operations against Al-Shabaab, while political tensions with regional states have complicated efforts to establish a unified national security strategy.

For civilians, the consequences remain severe. Conflict and insecurity continue to drive displacement, restrict humanitarian access and expose communities to attacks and violence. The continued presence of Al-Shabaab therefore represents not only a military challenge but also a major humanitarian and political problem.

Somalia’s ability to confront the militant group will depend on more than battlefield operations. Strengthening cooperation between the federal government and regional states, reducing political tensions and building effective national security institutions will be essential to preventing Al-Shabaab from exploiting political divisions.

As Somalia moves through a sensitive political and security period, the government faces a difficult task: maintaining political unity while continuing the fight against an insurgent group that has demonstrated its ability to adapt and exploit weaknesses in state authority.

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