Ethiopia's Somalia Intervention (2006-2009)
December 2006 - January 2009What Happened
Ethiopian forces, backed by the United States, invaded Somalia to oust the Islamic Courts Union, which had seized Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia. The ICU collapsed within weeks, but its youth militia—al-Shabaab—refused to surrender. Initially numbering around 400 fighters, al-Shabaab swelled to thousands as Somalis rallied against what they viewed as foreign occupation.
Outcome
Ethiopian forces captured major cities but faced persistent guerrilla attacks. Al-Shabaab emerged as the dominant insurgent faction by late 2008.
The intervention radicalized al-Shabaab, transforming a contained youth militia into a full al-Qaeda affiliate that continues to control significant Somali territory two decades later.
Why It's Relevant Today
The 2006 intervention demonstrates how military campaigns against Somali Islamists can eliminate one threat while creating a more resilient successor—a pattern the current campaign may be repeating.