Somalia's Shabaab 'a serious threat'

A spectacular attack by Shabaab Islamists in Mogadishu at the weekend has enabled the extremists to show they remain a serious threat.

• SA shocked by Somali attacks
• Suicide commando in Mogadishu rampage
• Somali judges 'need protecting from Shabaab'

Don't lift Somalia arms embargo, UN told

A rights group has warned the UN Security Council not to left the 21-year-old arms embargo in place for Somalia as called for by a draft resolution, describing the idea as premature.

• UN set to ease Somalia arms embargo
• Somalia wants arms embargo lifted
• Somalia urges UN to lift arms embargo

AU troops kill 5 children in Somali town

African Union peacekeepers trying to dislodge Islamist rebels from Somalia's Lower Shabelle region shot dead at least seven civilians in a remote town, residents say.

• Shabaab say they have executed French hostage
• Kenya restaurant attack - 4 dead
• Somali clashes kill at least 12 soldiers

AU appeals for UN funding for Mali force

The African Union has appealed for UN funding for a military operation to combat Islamist extremists in northern Mali.

• Mali rebels vow to respect national unity
• 'Military intervention in Mali inevitable'
• Mali government, rebels talk

AU, Somali troops capture Islamist town

African Union troops together with Somali forces have seized the formerly Islamist-held town of Wanla Weyn, the latest loss for the al-Qaeda linked Shabaab fighters.

• AU troops bolster gains in Somali port
• Somali pirates' party days over
• Kenya army says it controls Kismayo

AU, Somali troops seize Marka

African Union and Somali troops have captured the key port of Marka from Shabaab insurgents in the latest of a string of bases to be wrested off the extremists.

• Fears as Africa faces new 'arc of terror'
• Kenya 'won't pull troops from Somalia'
• Somali rebels down, but not out

Uganda military helicopters missing

A number of Ugandan military helicopters have gone missing in Kenyan airspace on their way to Somalia to reinforce AU peacekeeping forces battling al-Shabaab rebels, the Ugandan military says.

• US trains AU troops for Somalia mission
• Uganda president: US troops not fighting
• AU backs Kenyan troops joining Somali force

Kenya troops integrate into Amisom

Kenyan troops have been officially integrated into the African Union's peacekeeping mission in Somalia (Amisom), with Kenya's defence minister signing an agreement at AU headquarters.

• Amisom secures Somali aid corridor
• AU, Somalia troops advance to Afgoye
• AU forces intensify attack on Somali rebels

AU forces intensify attack on Somali rebels

AU and Somali government troops have stepped up their assault on al-Shabaab militants in the capital’s northern outskirts, forcing hundreds of families to flee their makeshift homes and head for the city centre.

• Somalia warned over transition deadline
• Briton linked to rebels in Somalia
• Somali market bombing kills 11

Somali market bombing kills 11

A bomb blast in a market in the strategic Somali town of Baidoa has killed at least 11 people and wounded many more in the latest in a string of attacks in the war-torn nation.

• Heavy fighting erupts in Somalia
• Briton linked to rebels in Somalia
• Blast in Somali presidential compound

Heavy fighting erupts in Somalia

Heavy fighting between a government-allied militia and al-Qaeda-linked rebels in central Somalia has killed dozens of fighters as Islamist militants stepped up attacks in the capital.

• Rift emerges in Somali Sufi group
• Shabaab seize central Somali town
• 6 Somalis killed in mortar attack

Kenyan soldiers to join AU Somali force

Kenya will avail 4 660 soldiers to the African Union force in Somalia, where it already has troops fighting the al-Qaeda linked Shabaab insurgents.

• Mogadishu: Amisom attacks Shabaab positions
• UN to boost Somali peacekeepers
• UN votes bigger African force in Somalia

Mogadishu: Amisom attacks Shabaab positions

African Union-backed Somali government troops have attacked hardline Shabaab insurgent positions in the war-torn capital of Mogadishu, officials say.

• UN votes bigger African force in Somalia
• Hundreds flee Mogadishu clashes
• UN to boost Somali peacekeepers

UN to boost Somali peacekeepers

The UN Security Council is set to vote to increase the African peacekeeping force in Somalia to 17 000 troops, diplomats say.

• Somalia talks in UK face daunting task
• UN move to boost Amisom by next week
• Ban welcomes Somalia govt deal

Hundreds flee Mogadishu clashes

Hundreds of Somalis have fled their homes fearing clashes after African Union troops attacked holdout Islamist Shabaab militia positions in the south of Mogadishu.

• UN move to boost Amisom by next week
• Shabaab celebrate al-Qaeda alliance
• Somalis rally against al-Qaeda fighters

Al-Shabaab: UK trying to colonise Somalia

The Islamist insurgent group al-Shabaab has accused Britain of trying to colonise Somalia, ahead of a major international conference in London on the chaotic Horn of Africa nation.

• Shabaab celebrate al-Qaeda alliance
• Mogadishu blast death toll hits 15
• Somali Islamist rebels ban ICRC

Somalia vows to chase out violent elements

Somali transitional government forces have vowed to chase "violent elements" out of Mogadishu, a day after an offensive aimed at dislodging al-Shabaab militia from the capital.

• AU troops reach outskirts of Mogadishu
• Amisom attacks Mogadishu rebel positions
• Four Somalis killed in rebel ambush

Four Somalis killed in rebel ambush

Somali Islamist gunmen have ambushed a convoy of government officials and journalists during intense fighting in Mogadishu, killing three soldiers and an official, a report says.

• Amisom attacks Mogadishu rebel positions
• Somali militants show off Kenyan hostages
• Mogadishu refugee camp bomb, 2 dead

Kenya push al-Shabaab from two towns

Kenyan forces have squeezed al-Shabaab militants out of their entrenched positions in two Somali towns as they step up their offensive against the rebels.

• Kenya military battles Somali fighters
• Kenya army: Somalis need food aid
• Kenya troops, Shabaab clash in Somalia

Kenya’s Somali Gamble

The Kenyan misadventure in Somalia may well prove to have given al Shabaab a life line, writes Prof Hussein Solomon.

Noose tightens on Somali rebels

Somalia's Islamist Shabaab rebels are facing growing encirclement by regional armies, as the war-torn nation's defence minister welcomed deployment of foreign forces against the fighters.

• Locals: Ethiopian troops in Somalia
• AU backs Kenyan troops joining Somali force
• Shabaab vow to defeat black Ethiopians

Kenya, Ethiopia meet for Somali talks

Ethiopian and Kenyan officials have met for talks on bolstering the AU force protecting the Somali government, to help stabilise the war-wracked Horn of Africa state.

• Ethiopia, Kenya may send troops to Somalia
• Somali rebels warn Kenya of 'hellfire'
• Kenya, Uganda, Somalia alliance historic

Somali rebel grenade strikes kill 2

Somalia’s al-Qaeda-linked rebels have killed at least two people in a series of grenade attacks and warned they would step up assaults in the capital.

• Somalis living in fear of Kenya attacks
• Somalia: Kenya warns of 'imminent' strikes
• Gunmen attack Kenya police station

Mogadishu massacre - 70 AU troops killed

Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab rebels have displayed over 70 dead bodies outside Mogadishu which they claimed were AU peacekeepers killed in battle.

• Fighting erupts in Somali capital
• AU, Somali forces battle Shabaab rebels
• Kenyan jets pound Shabaab positions