Houthis Reportedly Train Al-Shabaab Members in Yemen, Raising Threat to Red Sea Shipping

NAIROBI, Kenya — Growing evidence suggests a strengthening alliance between Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, significantly escalating threats to maritime traffic and regional stability in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and western Indian Ocean.

A detailed report published by the Africa Center stated that the collaboration has enhanced both groups' capacity to disrupt international shipping and challenge security across critical waterways.

The United Nations has confirmed that Al-Shabaab received advanced weapons and technical training from the Houthis between June and September 2024. The arms were reportedly used in attacks on African Union forces in Somalia during September and November last year.

According to U.N. intelligence, more than a dozen Al-Shabaab operatives were also sent to Yemen for drone warfare training by members of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), further expanding the group’s tactical capabilities.

"This growing collaboration in weapons, technology, and training poses a serious concern for the security of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait," the report stated. Analysts also warned that the alliance complicates surveillance along a vulnerable 1,800-mile stretch of coastline spanning the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and western Indian Ocean.

A former U.S. State Department official cautioned that continued American disengagement from Somalia could create opportunities for Al-Shabaab to expand its operations into neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia, while further solidifying its ties with the Houthis.

“This isn’t just a regional threat—it could eventually impact global trade and maritime security if left unchecked,” the official said.

GAROWE ONLINE