The Government of Somalia Warns of Threats from a Group Based in the Country…

Mogadishu (Caasimada Online) — The federal government of Somalia has warned that the increasing military and technical cooperation between the Houthis of Yemen and Al-Shabaab could provide the Al-Qaeda-linked group with the capability to carry out more dangerous attacks than before.

The Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ali Mohamed Omar (Ali Balcad), stated in an interview with TRT World that the two groups collaborate on technical matters, although they differ in ideology and principles they believe in.

He mentioned that Al-Shabaab does not possess some of the technical knowledge that the Houthis have, warning that this support could facilitate the group's use of modern weapons and technology. This, he pointed out, poses an additional threat to the public and government forces.

Ali Balcad also noted that Yemen has long been a route for the illegal transfer of weapons to Somalia. He stated that the arms smuggling networks operating between the two countries existed before the Houthis emerged.

However, the current concern is related to reports indicating that the relationship between the two groups is moving beyond arms trading, advancing to training and the transfer of military knowledge.

A relationship beyond arms smuggling

The government's warning has renewed concerns previously expressed by security experts. A report released by the Base Institute based in Mogadishu in February 2026 indicated that the cooperation between the Houthis and Al-Shabaab has political, media, and direct military dimensions.

According to the report, the relationship was initially based on information exchange and facilitation of maritime movements. It later evolved into cooperation in logistics and technical aspects, which created opportunities for both groups to benefit from each other.

The author of the report, Xuseen Sheekh Cali, who was previously the national security advisor to the President of Somalia, stated that the relationship, which was limited to addressing specific needs and arms trafficking, has become more systematically managed.

In a statement published by The Africa Report on February 17, he described the new cooperation as strategic, which should concern parties interested in regional security.

The assessment by the Saldhig Institute is based on the shared interests of both groups playing a significant role in their rapprochement, while differences in ideology do not hinder cooperation in arms, logistics, and information.

Drone Training

One of the major concerns is the possibility that Al-Shabaab may acquire knowledge to use unmanned aerial vehicles for attacks.

A report by United Nations experts on Yemen released in October 2025 noted information from confidential sources indicating that the Houthis are training members of Al-Shabaab in the technology of unmanned aerial vehicles and advanced techniques for making explosives.

Al-Shabaab has previously used those aircraft for reconnaissance and monitoring the movements of troops. The concern expressed by experts has been that the training of the Houthis could help the group transition to using those aircraft for attacks.

This change could provide the group with new methods to target troops and civilian areas, placing additional pressure on the government's efforts to ensure security.

However, the extent of the modern weaponry exchanged between the two groups remains unclear.