Research Exhibition

The strategic nexus between Al-Shabaab and the Houthis and its implications for the region and global security

What was presented

Researchers presented findings on the relationship between Al-Shabaab and the Houthis, and what that nexus means for Somalia, the Red Sea and wider international security.

On 13 February 2026 the SALDHIG Institute convened a research exhibition at The Villas in Mogadishu. The programme presented the Institute’s assessment of the strategic nexus between Al-Shabaab and the Houthis — a relationship rooted in pragmatism and convenience, with consequences that extend from Somali security to Red Sea shipping and global counter-terrorism.

The exhibition walked participants through the key findings: how the two groups interact, what that cooperation enables, and why the implications matter for Somali institutions, regional partners and international stakeholders. Discussion from the floor focused on policy choices available to governments and the evidence still needed for decision-makers.

The session formed part of the Institute’s public research programme and sits alongside the published report on the same theme.