Countries Involved in the Fight Against Al-Shabaab

Al-Shabaab is an armed group operating in Somalia and affiliated with the Al-Qaeda network. The conflict against the group is not confined to the group and the Federal Government of Somalia. A number of different countries are involved: some have deployed troops to Somalia as part of an African Union mission, some maintain bilateral cooperation with Mogadishu, and others carry out airstrikes or provide training and funding.

The engagement is structured at three levels: (1) ground forces supporting the Somali National Army, (2) air and intelligence support, and (3) funding, training and the supply of weapons. Many countries take part at only one of these levels. The phrase "at war with" should therefore be used carefully: in some cases the involvement is active combat, in others it is technical support.

The African Union mission: AUSSOM

The African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) began on 1 January 2025, replacing the earlier ATMIS mission. In resolution 2809, adopted on 23 December 2025, the United Nations Security Council extended the mission's mandate until 31 December 2026. The countries expected to contribute troops to AUSSOM include Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, with police personnel coming from Egypt, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

The transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM was not completed as planned. At its 1317th meeting on 15 December 2025, the African Union Peace and Security Council thanked Burundi and Ghana for the continued presence of their personnel after 31 December 2025, and requested a temporary suspension of the withdrawal of Burundian troops. The deployment of Egyptian forces was also delayed.

Neighbouring countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Uganda, Burundi

Uganda was the first country to deploy troops to Somalia under the AMISOM mission, and it maintained the largest contingent. Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti followed. These countries have domestic security reasons for their involvement: Al-Shabaab has carried out attacks inside their territory, particularly in Kenya. In 2022 the group mounted a major incursion into Ethiopia, its largest operation outside Somalia, with United Nations experts estimating that some fighters remained on Ethiopian soil.

Both Kenya and Ethiopia have troops within the African Union mission as well as bilateral operations outside it. This creates two separate chains of command, which at times come into conflict. From 2023 onwards, the leaders of Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti agreed to launch a new joint operation in areas held by Al-Shabaab.

The United States: airstrikes

The United States does not maintain a large ground combat force in Somalia but carries out airstrikes on a regular basis. United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) describes these strikes as jointly planned with the Federal Government of Somalia, and in some cases as "collective self-defence" conducted at Mogadishu's request. In 2025, AFRICOM published reports of strikes in several months, including February, March, August and December. Some strikes targeted ISIS-Somalia, a group distinct from Al-Shabaab, based in the Golis Mountains.

Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union

In 2017 Turkey opened a military base in Mogadishu known as Camp TURKSOM, its largest overseas base, intended for the training of Somali forces — particularly the Gorgor unit and the Haramad police. In 2025 Turkey sent additional troops to Somalia, and a larger phased deployment was reported to have been approved. Turkey has also been reported to operate Akinci unmanned aerial vehicles.

The United Arab Emirates has long provided training and funding to parts of the Somali security forces. Its main focus is the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) in Bosaso, which operates against piracy and armed groups. A training centre in Mogadishu was opened in 2015. The European Union, for its part, launched the EUTM Somalia training mission in 2010, initially operating from Uganda before relocating to Mogadishu in 2015; it works alongside the ATALANTA naval operation.

The question of funding

Funding is the most difficult issue facing the mission. ATMIS ended with a financial shortfall of roughly 96 million euros. Security Council resolution 2719, adopted on 21 December 2023, established a new mechanism for financing African Union operations using United Nations assessed contributions. The United States opposed applying that mechanism to AUSSOM, which led the Security Council to postpone its decision on funding.