Al-Shabaab turns 18: Why has the Somalia terror group refused to die? 

Al-Shabaab militants in Elasha Biyaha, Somalia

Al-Shabaab militants in Elasha Biyaha, Somalia, on February 13, 2012. File

The United Nations Security Council unanimously voted on 15 August 2024 to extend the mandate of the 12,626 men and women of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis). The African mission has been stationed in Somalia for the past 17 years to support the government’s battle against the homegrown terrorist group al-Shabaab. Despite recent government successes, fighting continues in Somalia.

Why has al-Shabaab proved such a hard nut to crack?