Al Shabaab ‘s Activity in South Somalia
Amid escalating tensions between the Somali Federal Government and Jubbaland, marked by disputes over authority and the defection of Jubbaland forces to the Somali National Army, Al-Shabaab exploited the instability by orchestrating three coordinated terrorist attacks in Jubbaland State and Bay State on December 9, 2024.
- Kismayo Port Attack: The police station at Kismayo Port was targeted by an explosion.
- Buula Xaaji Shelling: Two military bases in Buula Xaaji were shelled by Al-Shabaab.
- Raids in Wajid and El Berde: Al-Shabaab fighters raided two military bases in Wajid and El Berde towns.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attacks, asserting they inflicted heavy losses on Somali forces but did not specify the number of casualties.
These events highlight a fragile security landscape, worsened by internal political divisions and the calculated exploitation of instability by extremist groups seeking to deepen regional discord.
