Conventional Insurgents: Understanding al-Shabaab’s Mass Attacks against African Union Bases in Somalia

Abstract

More African Union (AU) peacekeepers have been killed in Somalia than any other modern peace operation. It is likely that over 450 of them were killed during al-Shabaab mass attacks on the AU’s forward operating bases (FOBs) in south-central Somalia, principally between June 2015 and January 2017. Based on a comparative analysis of six such battles, this article identifies the main factors that account for both the peacekeepers’ vulnerabilities and al-Shabaab’s military successes. It concludes by drawing lessons for peace operations beyond Somalia that might face similar threats from insurgents.