A newly released report has shed light on an alleged military relationship between Al-Shabaab and Yemen’s Houthi movement, claiming that a number of Al-Shabaab fighters were sent to Yemen for military and technical training.
According to the report, the militants received instruction in the use of small arms, the construction of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and basic drone operations.
The findings have raised concerns among security experts that the relationship between the two groups may have evolved beyond informal contacts into a more structured partnership involving training, military expertise and operational support.
A report published by Century International cited Somali, Yemeni and regional security officials as estimating that the Houthis have trained between 120 and several hundred Al-Shabaab fighters in Yemen.
The report echoes earlier findings by the United Nations Panel of Experts on Somalia, which stated that four groups of approximately 30 Al-Shabaab members each had traveled to Yemen for military training.
According to the investigation, some of the transfers began in late 2024, with fighters reportedly departing from coastal areas near Baraawe and Homboy in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region before being transported across the Gulf of Aden to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
Security analysts say Al-Shabaab’s interest in the relationship appears to be driven by a desire to acquire expertise in drone technology and air-defense capabilities.
Such knowledge could potentially enhance the group’s ability to conduct surveillance operations, deploy weaponized drones or improve its defenses against airstrikes, which have played a major role in counterterrorism operations against the group in Somalia.
The report also highlights the case of Ahmed Ilmi Samatar, a Somali national arrested by Yemeni authorities in 2024.
Century International describes him as a key facilitator in the alleged Al-Shabaab–Houthi network, accusing him of coordinating travel and communications between the two sides and helping Somalis reach Houthi-controlled territory.
While the report claims that as many as 400 Somalis may have traveled to Yemen through these networks, it notes that not all were necessarily Al-Shabaab members.
The estimated number of Al-Shabaab fighters who received training is believed to range from roughly 120 to several hundred individuals.
Concerns over links between armed groups in the Horn of Africa and Yemen are not new.
International security organizations and research institutions have long warned that instability in Yemen could provide opportunities for militant groups across the region to gain access to weapons, training and military expertise.
A study by Sweden’s FOI Research Institute previously pointed to alleged arms trafficking and training links between Al-Shabaab and jihadist networks operating in Yemen.
The allegations come as Al-Shabaab continues to adapt its military tactics.
The group has historically relied on guerrilla warfare, roadside bombs and coordinated attacks, but recent intelligence assessments suggest it has increasingly sought technical expertise related to drones and advanced weapons systems.
According to a report by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), Al-Shabaab was estimated to have between 7,000 and 12,000 fighters by the end of 2023, although the exact figure remains uncertain.
The group has continued recruiting new members while expanding its operational capabilities despite sustained military pressure from Somali and international forces.
If confirmed, the reported training relationship between Al-Shabaab and the Houthis could represent a significant security concern for Somalia, neighboring countries and international partners, potentially strengthening the militant group’s technical capabilities and deepening cross-border militant networks in the region.