What Are the Risks of Increasing Cooperation between the Houthis and Somalia’s al-Shabaab? Observers Respond

Media reports have revealed a potential agreement between Yemen’s Houthi terrorist group and Somalia’s al-Shabaab, affiliated with al-Qaeda, to exchange weapons, expertise, and resources.

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According to Al-Montasaf Net, observers predict that cooperation between the Houthi militia in Yemen and Somalia’s al-Shabaab could have negative repercussions on regional security and stability.

Observers indicate that both groups share common ground, including hostility toward the West and the United States, as well as facing international isolation. This enhances the likelihood of coordination between them in arms smuggling and other illicit trades across the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

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According to observers, Iran supports this collaboration by facilitating smuggling operations and supplying arms.

This alliance is perceived as a potential threat to the security of international maritime routes in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, underscoring the growing dangers of increased cooperation between the Houthis and armed groups in the region.

They also warn that such an alliance could have negative repercussions for the countries of the Horn of Africa and the Gulf, heightening regional tensions and necessitating international action to bolster maritime security and maintain regional stability.

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The American magazine National Interest published a report confirming the Houthis‘ ambitions in Yemen to collaborate with Somalia’s al-Shabaab, based on a report from U.S. intelligence.

The magazine noted that the exact types of weapons to be exchanged have not been specified. Al-Shabaab already has access to small arms and surveillance drones via extensive smuggling networks and the black market in Somalia. Therefore, it is likely that the Houthis might offer attack drones or surface-to-air missiles, as more advanced systems like anti-ship ballistic missiles and cruise missiles require extensive training and logistical support that al-Shabaab is unlikely to access due to the risks associated with Houthi and al-Shabaab fighters’ movements.

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