ABSTRACT
Since 1991, Somalia has been affected by a prolonged civil war, resulting in continued instability and insecurity. In 2006, the ICU took control of Mogadishu, establishing itself as the de facto ruling authority of Somalia, despite the existence of the internationally supported Transitional Federal Government. Since then, international concerns regarding al-Shabaab's expansion have made Somalia a focus for country- and multinational-led counter-terrorism and stabilisation initiatives. However, while these factors paint a positive picture overall, the Federal Government of Somalia now faces key challenges in addressing the extremely dire humanitarian context in which it operates, and consolidating and maintaining control of areas where al-Shabaab was dominant until recently. Violence increased significantly in the second half of 2022, as clan militias and governmental security forces efforts converged into an all-out military offensive against al-Shabaab across Somalia.
