Yemen Monitor / Washington / Exclusive:
On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Somalis must prevent the Houthis from infiltrating their country—marking the first official comment from his administration regarding the Yemeni group’s activities in the Horn of Africa.
“Houthis are sneaking in and trying to hide in Somalia. The Somalis must stop them,” Trump said.
The Houthis have been accused of forging a close relationship with Somalia’s al-Shabaab movement, the local branch of al-Qaeda, which is designated as a terrorist organization.
The relationship between the Houthis and al-Shabaab reflects a complex web of geopolitical and economic interests. Numerous reports indicate coordination between the two groups, with claims that the Houthis are supplying al-Shabaab with advanced weapons, including drones and missiles. Both groups are believed to benefit from regional smuggling networks to expand their influence.
