Somalia’s political vacuum could open a new front of threat

AFRICOM warns of possible Houthi–Al-Shabaab cooperation as Somalia’s disputed mandate and shifting US military priorities raise concerns over the Horn of Africa, the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab.

MOGADISHU (WDN) — Somalia’s deepening political crisis is colliding with a growing regional security threat. US military officials have warned that Yemen’s Houthi movement may be seeking to expand its presence in northern Somalia and develop links with Al-Shabaab, raising concerns about the security of the Horn of Africa and one of the world’s most important maritime corridors.

A report published by Stars and Stripes on October 9, citing US Africa Command (AFRICOM), said Houthi fighters or representatives may already be present in parts of northern Somalia. US officials fear that potential cooperation could provide Al-Shabaab with advanced weapons, military training and technical expertise in drones and other attack capabilities.

The extent of any Houthi presence or operational relationship with Al-Shabaab has not been independently established in public reporting. Nevertheless, the warning highlights the risk that armed groups operating on opposite sides of the Gulf of Aden could share resources and expertise, threatening regional security and international shipping.

A disputed mandate and a vulnerable state

Somalia’s security challenges cannot be separated from its unresolved political impasse. Opposition leaders maintain that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s four-year term expired on May 15, 2026, while the federal parliamentary mandate ended in April. The government disputes that interpretation, arguing that constitutional amendments and parliamentary decisions extend its mandate until May 2027.

The disagreement has left Somalia without a political settlement accepted by all major stakeholders. Continued confrontation risks weakening cooperation between federal institutions and member states, undermining public confidence and diverting attention from the fight against militant groups.

A disputed mandate does not automatically mean that Somalia has become a failed or lawless state. But prolonged political paralysis can weaken the institutions needed to maintain security, coordinate intelligence and exercise authority across national territory.

That is particularly dangerous as Somalia confronts Al-Shabaab, an Islamic State affiliate operating in Puntland and wider regional security threats.

The concern is that armed groups could exploit political fragmentation, expanding their activities while Somali leaders remain consumed by disputes over power and constitutional authority.

The Houthi–Al-Shabaab threat

The Houthis operate from Yemen, while Al-Shabaab conducts an insurgency in Somalia. Their positions on opposite sides of the Gulf of Aden give any potential cooperation serious strategic implications.

AFRICOM is concerned that the Houthis could provide Al-Shabaab with expertise in drones, weapons and military tactics. The Houthis have demonstrated their ability to use missiles and drones in regional conflicts. If such capabilities were transferred to Al-Shabaab, the group could become more dangerous to Somali forces, international partners and other targets.

The threat also extends to commercial shipping. The Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab connect the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean and form a critical passage for trade between Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Increased militant activity could raise shipping costs, disrupt trade and place greater pressure on regional governments and naval forces.

The Islamic State affiliate in Puntland presents an additional security challenge. However, there is no established public evidence that the Houthis, Al-Shabaab and ISIS are operating as a unified alliance. The concern is that a deteriorating security environment could allow these separate groups to expand their activities and exploit gaps in state authority.

Djibouti and US military priorities

The United States maintains a major military presence at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, a key hub for operations in East Africa. AFRICOM has previously expressed concern that Houthi missile and drone capabilities could threaten US facilities if the movement escalated its confrontation with Washington.

Any verified Houthi–Al-Shabaab partnership could therefore complicate US counterterrorism operations and regional maritime security. However, the available reporting does not establish that the Houthis have created a confirmed operational base in Somalia or that coordinated attacks are imminent.

The concerns come as Washington is reportedly transferring some MQ-9 Reaper drones from Africa to Colombia and Ecuador for operations against drug-trafficking organisations.

The New York Times reported on October 6 that an unspecified number of the drones had been moved from Africa to South America. MQ-9 Reapers play an important role in surveillance, intelligence gathering and precision strikes, including US operations against Al-Shabaab.

The number of aircraft transferred and the effect on US operations in Somalia have not been fully disclosed. It would therefore be premature to conclude that the redeployment has created a decisive gap in counterterrorism capabilities. Nevertheless, the timing raises questions about how Washington will balance competing military priorities while monitoring a potentially evolving threat in the Horn of Africa.

Preventing a wider regional crisis

Somalia’s political leaders cannot afford to treat the mandate dispute as separate from national security. A prolonged struggle over constitutional authority could weaken the cooperation required to confront militant groups and protect the country’s territorial integrity.

The federal government, opposition leaders and federal member states should urgently negotiate an inclusive political settlement, establish a credible electoral roadmap and restore confidence in national institutions. At the same time, Somali security agencies and international partners should strengthen intelligence-sharing, maritime security and efforts to prevent weapons transfers and militant financing.

International partners should support a Somali-led political process while assessing the regional consequences of changes to counterterrorism resources.

The greatest danger is not that Somalia has already become a base for every regional militant movement, but that political fragmentation could make it easier for armed groups to gain a foothold.

If the impasse continues and state institutions become less effective, the consequences could extend from northern Somalia to Djibouti, the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab. What begins as a domestic political crisis could then become a wider regional security problem, affecting international shipping and the strategic balance across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.

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