Al-Shabaab (Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen), 2006 to now

In short

Al-Shabaab is the largest armed group fighting the Somali government. It is the subject of a UN sanctions regime, and the US government calls it the largest al-Qaeda affiliate (UN Panel of Experts on Somalia, S/2023/724; Congressional Research Service, Al Shabaab, IF10170, 2023).

This page describes the group from those records and from Human Rights Watch, which reports on abuses by all parties. It does not take sides. It records what the sources say. For the harm to families and how communities respond, see Al-Shabaab: the harm it does and how Somalis respond.

Origins, 2006–2008

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) writes that al-Shabaab "evolved out of a militant wing" of the Islamic Courts Union, which took Mogadishu in 2006 (CRS 2023).

When Ethiopia, backed by the US, removed the courts in December 2006, CRS says al-Shabaab "used historical anti-Ethiopian sentiment among Somalis to draw recruits and support", including in the diaspora (same source). Some founders had trained in Afghanistan (same source).

What it says it wants

CRS summarises the group's stated aims (CRS 2023):

• It "rejects democracy".
• It seeks to unite the Somali-inhabited areas of Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia "in an Islamic state under its version of Sharia law".
• It calls the Somali government "an illegitimate apostate authority that is beholden to foreign powers".

It announced a formal affiliation with al-Qaeda in 2012. In 2015 some members urged a switch to the Islamic State; the leadership refused and moved against them (same source). See Islamic State in Somalia.

Territory

Al-Shabaab held "much of south-central Somalia, including the capital" from the late 2000s (CRS 2023). It withdrew from Mogadishu on 6 August 2011 (Al Jazeera, 2011). African Union and partner forces pushed it out of other towns and ports between 2011 and 2014 (same source).

Its rural control then stayed "largely unchanged" until 2022 (same source). In 2023 its own videos showed Eid celebrations in nine regions, including at Jilib, Bu'aale and Salagle in Middle Juba (UN Panel, S/2023/724, para. 8).

How it governs and raises money

CRS says the group "capitalizes on grievances and distrust of the government" and "fills local governance roles, providing basic services and resolving disputes". It also "forcibly recruits fighters, including children" (CRS 2023).

UN monitors estimate its income at $50 to $100 million a year, from "an extensive taxation system covering all aspects of the Somali economy". It "extorts businesses even in government areas" (same source). The UN Panel describes extortion of businesses and taxes on livestock and farm produce (UN Panel, S/2023/724).

Leaders

• Ahmed Abdi Godane. His predecessor was killed in a US strike in 2008. Godane then "consolidated power by assassinating rivals". He was killed in a US airstrike in 2014 (CRS 2023).
• Ahmed Diriye (Abu Ubaidah). He has led the group since 2014 (same source; UN Panel, para. 6).
• Mukhtar Robow. The former deputy leader left the group, later ran for state office, and was held without charge from 2018 to 2022. In 2022 he became federal Minister of Religious Affairs (CRS 2023).

Major attacks

• 14 October 2017, Mogadishu. A truck bomb killed over 500 people. It is the deadliest single attack attributed to the group (CRS 2023).
• Kenya. It has killed hundreds of Kenyans. Attacks include the Westgate mall (2013), Garissa University College (2015, at least 147 killed) and the DusitD2 hotel (2019) (same source).
• Bombings. The UN Panel recorded over 2,000 casualties from about 462 bomb incidents in 2022 and at least 950 in the first half of 2023 (UN Panel, para. 11).

Who fights it

• African Union forces. AMISOM from 2007, renamed ATMIS in 2022, with about 18,000 to 20,000 troops (CRS 2023; Human Rights Watch, World Report 2024).
• The Somali government. In August 2022 the Somali National Army launched an offensive "in coordination with local militias and a grassroots uprising", and the group "lost significant territory in central Somalia" (CRS 2023). The UN Panel could not confirm government claims of 3,000 fighters killed by March 2023 (UN Panel, para. 5).
• Outside powers. The United States designated the group in 2008 and has carried out airstrikes. Human Rights Watch notes reports of Turkish drone strikes too (HRW 2024).

Who suffered?

Human Rights Watch records harm to civilians by every party (HRW, World Report 2024):

• By al-Shabaab. "Targeted and indiscriminate attacks" killed hundreds of civilians in 2023. Its fighters "continued to execute individuals accused of working or spying for the government", often after unfair trials. It blockaded government-held towns, including Baidoa for 10 days in July 2023.
• By government forces. Executions after military trials "that violated international fair trial standards". Security forces arrested and detained children in areas newly taken from the group.
• By the offensive. The 2022 offensive, in which "government forces supported clan militia", led to civilian displacement.
• Displacement. In January to September 2023, 1.5 million people were newly displaced, 40 percent by conflict (UN figures in the same source).

Sources differ

• Size. UN monitors estimate 7,000 to 12,000 fighters (CRS 2023). ATMIS estimated 7,000 to 9,000 in 2022 (UN Panel, note 2).
• Income. CRS, citing earlier UN reports, gives $50 to $100 million a year. A later UN panel estimate, cited on our society page, is over $150 million for 2023.
• Losses in the 2022–2023 offensive. The Somali government's figures and the UN Panel's findings differ, as noted above.
• Names. The group calls itself Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen. Governments and media also use "al-Shabab" or "Shabaab".

Read the primary sources yourself

• UN Panel of Experts on Somalia, final report, S/2023/724, 2 October 2023: PDF.
• Congressional Research Service, Al Shabaab, IF10170, updated 14 February 2023: text.
• Human Rights Watch, World Report 2024, Somalia chapter: text.