| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa Horn |
| Al Shabaab has increased the scale of its attacks on Somali federal government (SFG) facilities in Mogadishu |
| 2025-12-23 |
Text: NEW | Al Shabaab has increased the scale of its attacks on Somali federal government (SFG) facilities in Mogadishu in December amid rising tensions between the SFG and opposition over electoral reforms. The group carried out suicide bombings on two separate military bases in Mogadishu on December 10, which were part of at least seven total al Shabaab attacks on SFG facilities from December 10 to 13. Growing tensions over upcoming federal elections in 2026 could create additional security gaps and high-publicity targets for al Shabaab to exploit. Al Shabaab has previously increased activity in Mogadishu amid political tension, including elections, and has already threatened to target election sites as the SFG has rolled out a contentious new direct election system for Mogadishu’s municipal elections in late December 2025. Al Shabaab has consolidated support zones outside of Mogadishu in the Middle Shabelle region and the Afgoi corridor despite earlier SFG and African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) gains in the lower Shabelle River valley in 2025. Related: Middle Shabelle: 2025-12-20 Fear of Al-Shabaab attacks grows after militants captured Nuur-Dugle Middle Shabelle: 2025-12-19 Security Analysis Warns Al-Shabaab Control of Nuur-Dugle Could Cut Off Mogadishu Supply Lines Middle Shabelle: 2025-12-18 Residents Report Al-Shabab Militant Movements Near Nuur-Dugle in Middle Shabelle |
| Posted by:badanov |