By Horn Africa News
The United Nations has raised alarms over an emerging and dangerous alliance between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Somalia’s Al-Shabaab militant group—two entities both designated as terrorist organizations by the United States.
The revelation, stemming from recent sanctions reports, points to an expanding security threat in the Horn of Africa and the wider Red Sea region.
According to The Washington Post, Houthi forces have reportedly dispatched explosives and mine warfare experts to Jilib, a key Al-Shabaab stronghold in southern Somalia. Located in Middle Juba region within Somalia’s federal state of Jubbaland, Jilib has long served as Al-Shabaab’s command and operations hub.
This development marks what experts describe as a deepening operational partnership between the two extremist factions, potentially enabling the exchange of deadly tactics and advanced weaponry. Security analysts caution that such collaboration could significantly enhance both groups’ combat capabilities and regional influence.
A former senior official from the U.S. State Department told The Washington Post that the gradual drawdown of American military presence in Somalia has created a dangerous power vacuum—one that both Al-Shabaab and the Houthis may exploit to expand their reach and entrench their positions.
The official further warned that Al-Shabaab could escalate its operations beyond Somalia’s borders, particularly into neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia, while simultaneously cementing strategic ties with the Houthi movement.
American diplomats and military officials echoed similar concerns, noting that a diminished U.S. footprint in Somalia could severely undermine years of fragile political stabilization efforts in the country.
As the Houthi–Al-Shabaab axis gains momentum, security experts are urging the international community to respond swiftly and decisively. Without immediate coordinated action, they warn, the Horn of Africa could plunge deeper into instability—further weakening one of the world’s most fragile regions.
