AlShabaab

GALKAYO, Somalia - A number of top Al-Shabaab commanders were arrested in Central Somalia on Sunday, officials said, in what could be a major milestone in the fight against the al-Qaeda-linked group that is wreaking havoc in central and southern Somalia. Galmudug's security minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi and Mudug governor Abdiladif Muse Nur jointly said security forces in the two states had arrested senior Al-Shabaab members, but did not reveal their details. In recent months, Mudug has been heavily influenced by the…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A two-day meeting to evaluate the gains of the security sector in Somalia has ended in Mogadishu, the capital, with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somali National Army (SNA) agreeing on strategies for Somali security forces to take a leading role in security operations forward. Attending the meeting were representatives of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), military leaders of the Somali National Army (SNA) and AMISOM as well as officials from the United Nations Support…

NAIROBI, Kenya - The United States will review an inquiry into the Manda Bay Al-Shabaab Raid, aimed at Camp Simba, a US naval base in Kenya, and one of the most advanced and equipped in East, Central and South Africa, in just one year after the unprecedented attack. Gen Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has ordered a high-level review of a preliminary military investigation into a January 2020 attack on a Kenyan Islamic extremist base that left three Americans dead, the Pentagon said Monday as reported by the New…

NAIROBI, Kenya - As part of their propaganda campaigns, Al-Shabaab militants have now recommended the use of honey and black seeds in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, although the world is striving to improve some of the vaccines that have been approved by the World Health Organization. Somalia is one of the countries fighting to contain the virus, a move that has forced the authorities to revise some of the public restrictions as a mitigating measure to the raging pandemic. Thousands have been infected with…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Outgoing Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble visited Somalia's national army on Monday troops at the military hospital in Mogadishu, where dozens of them are undergoing treatment after several Al-Shabaab attacks in Lower Shebelle on Saturday. The Somali-based Al-Shabaab militants ran over Awdheele and Barire military bases early Saturday morning, leading to fierce fighting with the troops paying attention. This was the first time Al-Shabaab attacked SNA bases in so many months. Roble, who was…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Al-Qaeda-linked Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants have stepped up attacks in the country amid a deepening electoral and political crisis that delayed the referendum. The militants have briefly taken control of the Barire military base, reports show after fierce fighting with the Somali national army Saturday morning, leaving dozens of militants and soldiers dead. However, the fighters failed to take control of Awdheele town in Lower Shabelle after being repulsed by Gor-Gor troops, who washed them…

Supreme government official pictured with Al-Shabaab prisoner MOGADISHU, Somalia - The credibility of the federal government in Somalia could once again be called into question after a top government official was seen with an Al-Shabaab prisoner who has been under NISA custody since 2014. Ali Yare, deputy governor of the Banadir region and a close associate of outgoing President…

Somali military and Al-Shabaab claim victory in several attacks MOGADISHU, Somalia - The al-Qaeda-linked group, Al-Shabaab, claimed victory in several military base attacks in Somalia on Saturday morning, a claim that has been disputed by the federal government in Somalia and the military, which insisted that the militants be rejected. Fierce fighting was reported in Lower Shabelle…

Somali troops repel several Al-Shabaab attacks near the capital MOGADISHU, Somalia - Al-Qaeda-linked group Al-Shabaab claimed victory in several military bases in Somalia on Saturday morning, a claim that has been disputed by the federal government in Somalia and the military, which insisted the militants be expelled. Heavy fighting was reported in Lower Shebelle early Saturday…

Al-Shabaab rejects COVID-19 vaccines citing its 'ineffective and unfavorable' side effects MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia-based Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militants have dismissed the AstraZeneca vaccine, which was recently developed in the fight against the coronavirus, arguing that it is "harmful" and therefore cannot be used by its members as a preventative dose. . Coronavirus has…