Al-Shabaab Launches Operation Ramadan in Somalia’s Shabelle Region

By Maria Kalamatas | The Logistic News
April 17, 2025

An alarming military escalation is unfolding in central Somalia, where al-Shabaab militants have launched a coordinated offensive across multiple provinces under the banner of “Operation Ramadan.” The offensive began earlier this month and is concentrated in the Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle, and Hiran regions, with intermittent attacks in Banaadir, which includes the capital, Mogadishu.

This new wave of violence is part of the group’s ongoing insurgency against the Somali National Army (SNA) and pro-government militias, and comes during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a period when the group historically intensifies its attacks.

“Al-Shabaab’s current push appears more strategic than symbolic,” said Abdi Nur, a regional security expert based in Nairobi. “They are testing military thresholds while international attention is split.”

Strategic Logistics Under Threat

As fighting intensifies, transport corridors linking Mogadishu to inland cities like Beledweyne and Jowhar have become increasingly unsafe. Truck convoys, aid shipments, and even military logistics routes are now subject to IED attacks, ambushes, and road closures.

Local trucking companies and humanitarian organizations have suspended overland transport in the region, opting for air drops and protected UN convoys to deliver aid to vulnerable populations.

“We’ve had to reroute all non-critical cargo through Kenya,” said Yasir Mohamed, operations manager for a regional freight operator. “The risk is too high for commercial logistics in Shabelle right now.”

Humanitarian Impact

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that over 70,000 civilians have been displaced since the start of the offensive. Many have fled to overcrowded IDP camps in Hirshabelle State, straining food, water, and sanitation resources.

WFP and the ICRC are coordinating emergency responses but warn that insecurity is limiting access to several conflict-affected zones.

“We are deeply concerned about starvation risks in blocked areas,” said an ICRC field officer in Beledweyne.

International Reaction

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and U.S. AFRICOM have expressed support for the SNA’s counteroffensive, with drone surveillance and limited airstrikes reportedly conducted near known al-Shabaab training sites.

The United Nations has formally designated al-Shabaab as a terrorist organization, and several member states are calling for renewed funding for Somali stabilization efforts.

Conclusion

With key logistics corridors under threat and civilians caught in the crossfire, the situation in Somalia’s Shabelle region remains volatile. The outcome of Operation Ramadan could have profound consequences—not only for national stability but also for humanitarian access and regional freight security across the Horn of Africa.

Maria Kalamatas is a geopolitical and conflict zone correspondent for The Logistic News, reporting on insurgencies, supply chain disruption, and humanitarian access across fragile regions.

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