A new investigation has presented detailed evidence suggesting that ties between Yemen’s Houthis and Somalia’s Al-Shabaab have expanded beyond meetings and weapons discussions to include military training and logistical cooperation.
According to a report by Century International, between 120 and several hundred Al-Shabaab members have reportedly received training at Houthi-run camps in Yemen. The training allegedly included weapons use, explosives manufacturing and basic drone operations.
The report also indicates that Houthi military engineers travelled to Somalia’s Juba Valley to provide technical training to Al-Shabaab fighters. Networks linking the two groups have also allegedly facilitated the movement of fighters and weapons between the two sides.
However, there is no publicly available conclusive evidence so far that the Houthis have transferred advanced weapons, such as surface-to-air missiles, to Al-Shabaab.
The reported cooperation is raising fresh security concerns for Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa. If confirmed, the developments would indicate that relations between the two groups are evolving from limited contacts into a more organized form of military and logistical cooperation.
The extent of the relationship, including the scale of training and the transfer of military expertise or equipment, remains subject to further verification.
