As the United Nations Security Council convenes to deliberate on the extension of sanctions against Al-Shabaab, the urgency of the matter has been underscored by a recent report from the panel of experts monitoring the situation in Somalia. The draft resolution, spearheaded by the United Kingdom, aims to renew critical measures including a maritime embargo on illicit weapons and a stringent ban on charcoal exports, which are believed to finance the militant group’s activities.

Al-Shabaab’s persistent threat to peace and stability in Somalia remains a significant concern for the international community. The expert panel’s findings reveal the group’s continued capability to execute serious attacks not only against the Somali government and African Union forces but also against international partners. This highlights the ongoing challenge of securing the region against terrorism and piracy, which has seen a noticeable increase with over 25 attacks recorded since November 2023.

The resolution also seeks to maintain the prohibition of various types of explosives, aiming to curb Al-Shabaab’s access to materials that could be used for attacks. The continuation of these sanctions is viewed as essential in stifling the operational capacities of the terrorist group, which has shown resilience and adaptability despite previous international efforts to dismantle its networks.

Denmark, holding the presidency of the Security Council for March, has a full agenda with pressing global issues including the situations in Russia and Ukraine, the Palestinian territories, Syria, and Sudan. However, the decision on Somali sanctions remains a critical point of action, reflecting the international community’s commitment to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and stability of the Horn of Africa.

The outcome of this vote is pivotal, as it will determine the international community’s readiness to continue a robust stance against terrorism financing and arms trafficking in the region. As the Security Council moves forward, the world watches, hoping for a unified approach to one of the most pressing security challenges in East Africa.

A deadly landmine explosion targeted a military convoy in southern Somalia, escalating the conflict with Al-Shabaab militants. 

In a tragic incident on Thursday, a landmine explosion in the Madooda area of Bakool region, Somalia, claimed the lives of at least five government soldiers. The attack occurred as the soldiers were part of a convoy heading to reinforce South West regional forces, which had engaged in earlier clashes with the militant group Al-Shabaab.

The explosion specifically targeted one of the vehicles in the convoy, resulting in significant casualties. This incident underscores the ongoing volatile security situation in the region, where government forces are actively combating Al-Shabaab militants.

South West State President Abdiaziz Laftagareen expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased, honoring them as “heroes” who sacrificed their lives in the ongoing struggle against Al-Shabaab. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing military operations against the militants, highlighting the capture of a significant cache of weapons from Al-Shabaab during Thursday’s battle. However, details regarding the casualties inflicted on the militants were not disclosed.

Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaida-linked group, has been intensifying its attacks in the region. This escalation comes as government and allied forces step up their offensives, aiming to reclaim territories under militant control and restore peace and stability in the area. The persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab necessitates continued vigilance and sustained military efforts by the Somali government and its allies.

Somaliland’s diaspora, particularly the influential Isaaq clan in Minnesota, is rallying behind Puntland in its fierce fight against ISIS in the Bari region, voicing anger at the Somali federal government’s failure to take decisive action. Members of the Somaliland community, frustrated by the lack of support from Mogadishu, are stepping up to help Puntland’s defensive forces.

With Puntland’s “Operation Hillaac” making significant strides in eliminating ISIS, Somaliland’s elites are pushing for increased international cooperation, including support from the U.S. and UAE. The involvement of the U.S. military and UAE airstrikes has already dealt heavy blows to ISIS insurgents, and Somaliland’s diaspora feels compelled to contribute both morally and materially to the cause.

In Minnesota, where the Somali diaspora is prominent, the call to action is clear. Community leaders and political figures are criticizing the Somali federal government for its failure to help Puntland in this crucial battle. While President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has lauded U.S. efforts, critics claim the Somali government has politicized the fight, neglecting its duties to protect its citizens, particularly the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives on the frontlines.

Puntland’s battle against ISIS is not just a regional issue, but a global one. Somaliland’s diaspora, especially the Isaaq clan, views the ISIS threat as a direct danger to global security, urging more resources and military cooperation to eliminate this extremist group. The message from both communities is clear: the fight against ISIS is a shared responsibility, and the federal government must do more to protect Somali citizens and contribute to this international struggle.

With a united front, the Somali diaspora is determined to ensure that Puntland’s success is not overshadowed by governmental inaction, and they are committed to standing with their brothers and sisters in Puntland until ISIS is defeated once and for all.

Somalia’s ISIS isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving. They’re running black-market banks, funding jihadists from Türkiye to Mozambique, and even pulling foreign fighters into Africa. Is the U.S. ready for this war—or about to abandon another battlefield?

Islamic State Somalia Becomes Global Terror Hub—And Washington Is Running Out of Options

Islamic State’s Somalia branch (IS-S) is no longer just a rogue jihadist faction—it’s a fully operational financial and logistical powerhouse fueling global terror. With black-market banking networks, an influx of foreign fighters, and mounting battlefield victories, IS-S is emerging as one of the most dangerous threats in Africa.

U.S. intelligence officials are sounding the alarm, but with Washington shifting its focus away from counterterrorism, Somalia’s Islamic State offshoot is thriving under the radar. Unlike al-Shabaab, which aims to govern Somali territory, IS-S operates like a transnational crime syndicate, moving money, weapons, and fighters across continents.

Somalia’s Black-Market Bank for Global Jihadists

At the heart of IS-S’s expansion is Al-Karrar, the group’s underground financial hub, where millions of dollars are funneled through hawala networks, cryptocurrency transfers, and extortion rackets. Intelligence reports suggest IS-S is laundering millions to fund Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) in Afghanistan, as well as terror cells in Türkiye, Mozambique, and South Africa.

Bilal al-Sudani, a former low-level jihadist, rose to power as IS-S’s chief financier before being taken out by U.S. Special Forces in January 2023. His death was a major blow, but IS-S has adapted—its money-laundering operations have only expanded, making it a critical financial artery for ISIS’s global network.

IS-S Is Not Just Recruiting Fighters—It’s Recruiting Skills

The terror group is no longer just pulling in Somali militants. Foreign recruits from Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Syria, and Tanzania are pouring in, bringing expertise in mechanics, agriculture, and logistics—all essential for sustaining a long-term insurgency.

December 31, 2024, was a turning point. In a coordinated nighttime assault, IS-S militants stormed a Puntland military base, using suicide bombers—many of them foreign fighters—to breach defenses before slaughtering scores of soldiers. The attack was broadcast across jihadist forums, signaling to the world that IS-S is no longer just a local threat—it’s an expanding force capable of carrying out large-scale operations.

The U.S. Faces A Fading Window for Action

The Biden administration spent years arming and funding Somali counterterrorism forces, but Trump’s new administration faces a decision—stay in the fight or cut losses and leave. The U.S. has already pulled troops from parts of Africa, and Somalia could be next.

“Islamic State Somalia has gone global—acting as the financial and logistical nerve center for ISIS worldwide. The U.S. is bombing targets, but will it stay in the fight, or will IS-S exploit America’s retreat, much like the Taliban in Afghanistan?”

But abandoning Somalia would hand IS-S a golden opportunity to expand unchallenged, much like what happened when the Taliban seized Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal.

Complicating matters is the potential collapse of U.S.-funded humanitarian programs, which support more than 3 million displaced Somalis. A vacuum in aid and security could create the perfect recruitment ground for IS-S, leaving thousands of young men with no future—except jihad.

A Ticking Time Bomb—And The West’s Next Headache

Somalia’s Islamic State branch has evolved into something far deadlier than a local insurgency. It’s a global logistics machine, funding, recruiting, and coordinating terror operations across multiple continents.

With navies stretched thin in the Red Sea, piracy resurging, and Somalia’s government struggling to contain the jihadist threat, IS-S is exploiting the chaos to build its empire.

If Washington steps back now, Somalia’s ISIS problem won’t stay in Somalia. It will spread—across Africa, the Middle East, and eventually, the West. The only question left: Will America act before it’s too late?

High-ranking Al-Shabaab commander surrenders to Somali forces as defections rise under military pressure.

Somalia’s relentless offensive against Al-Shabaab has pushed yet another senior commander to abandon the militant group. Abuukar Aadan Buulle, a key figure within Al-Shabaab’s ranks, surrendered to Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) forces in Luuq, Gedo region.

Buulle, who trained in Wargaduudo village and later commanded Al-Shabaab operations in Ceel Cadde, revealed he had been with the group since 2015, actively participating in multiple battles. Now, he has defected, urging his former comrades to follow his lead and abandon the insurgency.

His surrender reflects a strategic collapse within Al-Shabaab, as intensified military offensives and security crackdowns continue to dismantle their operational strongholds. The Somali government has amplified efforts to weaken the terror group from within, encouraging defections while delivering decisive military blows.

With defections on the rise and Al-Shabaab losing ground, the Somali government is gaining momentum in its war to eradicate the militant presence once and for all. More commanders will likely follow suit—as the battlefield grows smaller, surrender may be their only escape.

Telegram takes down ISIS’s Iclaam news website, a major propaganda outlet covering the war in Puntland. Meanwhile, ISIS shifts its messaging to Facebook.

Telegram has taken decisive action against ISIS propaganda, shutting down the Iclaam website, a key outlet used by the terror group to spread war reports and recruitment messaging. This move disrupts ISIS’s ability to control its narrative on the ongoing conflict in the Calmiskaad mountains of Puntland, where Puntland forces continue their offensive to dismantle the group’s strongholds.

ISIS has long relied on Telegram as a secure and effective platform for communication, recruitment, and psychological warfare. However, tech companies have increasingly cracked down on extremist content, and Iclaam’s removal signals a continued effort to restrict the group’s influence.

While it remains unclear whether the Somali Federal Government played a role in the takedown, Mogadishu has previously targeted and removed hundreds of Al-Shabaab and ISIS-affiliated websites as part of its counterterrorism strategy.

Undeterred, ISIS has swiftly adapted, launching a new media platform, Tageere Radio Hijratayn, through Facebook. This outlet now serves as the group’s primary channel for broadcasting war updates, spreading propaganda, and attempting to radicalize new recruits.

The Puntland government has vowed to take action against those engaging with ISIS media, with authorities already handing down prison sentences to suspected supporters. As Puntland forces continue tightening their grip on ISIS-controlled areas, the battle against the group’s digital footprint has become just as critical as the fight on the ground.

New intelligence points to Somalia-based Abdul Qadir Mumin as ISIS’s global leader, marking a major shift in the terror group’s strategy.

The hunt for ISIS’s global mastermind may have ended in the mountains of Somalia. Intelligence agencies are circling around Abdul Qadir Mumin, the long-time head of ISIS-Somalia, as the man behind the terror group’s global command. A UN-backed intelligence report suggests growing confidence that Mumin, who has survived multiple assassination attempts, is in fact Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, the elusive ISIS caliph. If confirmed, this marks a radical shift in ISIS’s leadership strategy—placing an African warlord at the helm of the world’s most feared terrorist network.

For years, ISIS has concealed its leadership to evade detection, but new evidence shows the group pivoting from Iraq and Syria to Africa, using Somalia as a hardened command center. Mumin operates from a fortified hideout in Somalia’s Golis Mountains, where he has expanded ISIS’s financial empire, boosted recruitment, and secured advanced weaponry, including drones for precision strikes. U.S. airstrikes have failed to eliminate him, and now, his forces are growing bolder, extending their influence across Somalia and beyond.

ISIS’s shift to Africa signals a major challenge for global counterterrorism forces. As Western intelligence scrambles to confirm Mumin’s role, the terror group continues to evolve, embedding itself deeper into Somalia’s lawless terrain while maintaining operational cells in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. With ISIS-K in Afghanistan escalating attacks and foreign recruits flowing into Somalia, the world may be facing a deadlier, more decentralized ISIS than ever before. If Mumin is indeed the caliph, then the battlefield has changed—making the fight against ISIS even more unpredictable and relentless.

Jubbaland security forces raid Al-Shabaab stronghold, killing four militants and capturing a high-ranking judge in a strategic counterterrorism operation.

Jubbaland security forces have scored a major counterterrorism victory after capturing a senior Al-Shabaab judicial official and killing four militants in a targeted raid near Dhoobley, southern Somalia.

The high-stakes operation, conducted in the Lafo-Gari area of Lower Juba, led to the arrest of Moalim Mohamed, who served as deputy judge in one of Al-Shabaab’s shadow courts. These courts have been instrumental in enforcing the group’s brutal form of Islamic law, issuing arbitrary punishments and controlling local populations through fear.

According to Colonel Mohamed Heybe, the security commander of Dhoobley district, intelligence reports pinpointed Al-Shabaab activity in the area, prompting a surprise raid by Jubbaland forces.

Upon arrival, around 20 militants engaged the security forces in a fierce gunfight. After a brief but intense battle, four Al-Shabaab fighters, including the group’s financial chief for Lafo-Gari, were eliminated, and two others were wounded before the remaining insurgents fled.

The capture of Moalim Mohamed is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s operational and financial networks in Lower Juba. The group has long relied on informal taxation and judicial control to enforce its rule and fund its operations.

This latest operation highlights the increasing effectiveness of Somali federal and regional forces, backed by international partners, in combating the al-Qaeda-linked insurgency that has terrorized Somalia and spilled over into Kenya for more than 15 years.

The Somali government has intensified its military campaign against Al-Shabaab in recent months, with coordinated offensives across multiple regions. The successful raid near Dhoobley underscores Jubbaland’s commitment to eliminating militant strongholds and cutting off Al-Shabaab’s revenue sources.

With continuous operations targeting militant leaders, financiers, and enforcers, the noose is tightening around Al-Shabaab, setting the stage for further counterterrorism successes in southern Somalia.