Villa Somalia Attack Highlights al Shabaab's Versatility

Al Shabaab militants launched an attack on the Villa Somalia compound, which houses the Somali presidential palace, on Feb. 21. The attack illustrated the group's ability to strike at one of the most secure locations in Mogadishu and to transition between different ways of fighting as circumstances dictate, aiding its survival.

As al Shabaab has become more active in Mogadishu in recent weeks, concerns about the militant group's activities in the capital have risen. Unless security forces conduct a more effective counterinsurgency, the increased al Shabaab presence in Mogadishu may cause continued attrition that could allow the group to re-establish a foothold in the capital. Despite planned offensives to defeat al Shabaab in the rest of the country and al Shabaab's loss of control of Kismayo and other cities, the group continues to pose a serious threat to attempts by the government and the African peacekeepers to establish control over Somali territory.