This is a 2015 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
January
January 1 Somali government forces and al-Shabaab militants engage in a gunfight near the southern town of Kurtun Waarey. Al-Shabaab commander Ibrahim Filey is killed during the skirmish, in addition to three other insurgents.
January 3 Al-Shabaab insurgents attack a Somali military base on the outskirts of Baidoa. The insurgents briefly seize the station until they are eventually repelled. According to national military officer Ahmed Idow, three al-Shabaab fighters were killed during the gunfight, while seven soldiers died. A spokesman for the insurgent group claims instead that the militants killed 10 soldiers.
January 5 According to Interior Ministry spokesman Mohamed Yusuf, security forces are warned of a car laden with explosives in Mogadishu. The security officers trail the vehicle in question, which abruptly detonates near the Aden Adde International Airport. The car was reportedly targeting a convoy carrying soldiers of the Alpha Group intelligence unit. Officials indicate that four people are killed during the blast. Al-Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abu Musab also claims responsibility for the explosion.
January 7 Al-Shabaab militants execute four men in the Bardhere district by firing squad. The executions come after a Gedo province court belonging to the insurgent group accuses the individuals of spying for the Federal Government of Somalia, Ethiopia and the United States.
January 8 AU Special Representative to Somalia Ambassador Maman Sidikou announces that, following joint military operations by Somali government forces and AMISOM troops, al-Shabaab has lost control of over 80% of territory that it previously held. He indicates that the insurgents have now concentrated their capacity in the Lower Juba province. Sidikou does not specify when exactly the cleanup operations against al-Shabaab will conclude, but they are expected to be launched within a few weeks.
January 13 Somali government forces and AMISOM troops clash with al-Shabaab militants for control of Trako locality. The insurgent bastion is situated 50 kilometers west of the Bardhere district. According to local residents, the joint forces advanced to the area from Elwak district. The gunfight reportedly involves both light and heavy arms. Casualties are uncertain.
January 15 Al-Shabaab militants attack a police station in the northeastern city of Bosaso with grenades and gunfire. Local residents report that the ensuing gunfight with Puntland security forces lasts 30 minutes. The insurgents flee ahead of police reinforcements at the garrison. According to Puntland police captain Mohammud Saciid, two policemen are killed and three are wounded during the raid. Al-Shabaab military operations spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab asserts that the insurgents killed three officers. Security forces subsequently launch a crackdown in the city, with arrests pending. The skirmish comes after Puntland security forces successfully concluded a campaign against al-Shabaab in the Galgalga hills, scattering the remaining militants. Operation Indian Ocean in the southern part of the country has similarly confined the rebels to rural areas, from which they have resorted to launching hit-and-run attacks in urban centers.
January 17 Security forces launch house-to-house searches and other safety measures in Mogadishu and environs. The stabilization operations are prompted by gathered intelligence indicating possible breaches of security. A number of al-Shabaab suspects and illicit arms are in the process seized in the Kaxda district. Following tips from residents, local police patrol specific areas in the Howlwadaag district, detain suspects that were planning attacks, and impound their vehicles. Additionally, security forces discover a small bullet- and explosive-making factory in Heliwaa district. They subsequently apprehend five suspects, and dismantle the weapons center. Luq District Police Commissioner Siyad Abdulkadir Mohamed announces that Sheikh Osman Sheikh Mohamed, the commander of al-Shabaab's militia in the Luq area, has turned himself in to the federal authorities. The rebel leader likewise reportedly hands over all of his weaponry. According to the police official, further al-Shabaab members intend to defect. He also indicates that the federal government welcomes all former insurgents who disavow of the use of violence and instead pledge to take part in the peace process.
January 18 Al-Shabaab militants and AMISOM forces engage in a gunfight in Arbaow. The skirmish begins after the insurgents attack AMISOM bases in the region at midnight, also firing rockets. According to a local resident, AMISOM troops in return inadvertently launch rockets into civilian areas. Casualties are uncertain.
January 19 Somali government forces and AMISOM troops launch a security operation in Jalalaqsi district in the south-central Hiran province. According to the Jalalaqsi mayor Omar Osman Maow, they in the process disarmed a number of residents that were causing disruption in the district. He also indicates that the joint forces arrested seven suspected al-Shabaab militants during the raid.
January 20 The just appointed Mayor of Afgoye Ali Jalil dies in a landmine explosion targeting him near the Lower Shabelle province's Hawa Abdi locality. Provincial Governor Abdikadir Mohamed Nuur indicates that al-Shabaab militants were likely responsible for the killing as they previously targeted governmental and military officials stationed in the area, including himself. He also announces that the provincial administration has launched an investigation into the slaying.
January 22 A suicide bomber drives a vehicle loaded with explosives into the gates of the SYL hotel in Mogadishu. According to a Somali intelligence official, a 70-member Turkish delegation was at the time staying at the establishment, one day ahead of a scheduled visit by the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu indicates that all of the delegates are safe, and that casualties besides the bomber include three local residents and some broken windows. He also states that it is unclear whether the Turkish delegation was the target of the explosion, and that Erdoğan would continue with his planned visit. A witness reports that two of the dead are police officers. Al-Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab subsequently claims responsibility for the attack, but makes no mention of Erdoğan's trip. He instead asserts that the militants disrupted a gathering of local police, killing several officers. President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Davutoğlu both indicate that their respective administrations will launch probes into the blast. A few hours later, Erdoğan's scheduled visit is postponed to 25 January so that he and Mohamud may attend the funeral service of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who has just died. Erdoğan also asserts that the explosion was likely not targeting Turkish officials, reaffirms Turkey's support for Somalia, and suggests that any party who resents the Turkish authorities' various development projects in Somalia is an enemy of the state. Security forces subsequently apprehend over 10 senior police and intelligence officials for allegedly facilitating the attack, including several generals and colonels. The bombers had reportedly traversed a number of vehicle checkpoints before carrying out their suicide raid.
January 24 Somali government forces and AMISOM troops capture Bulo-Jadid, Bulo-Yusuf and El Jarmed villages in the Bakool province from al-Shabaab. The insurgent group had for some time imposed a blockade on the three southwestern towns. According to Tiyeglow Mayor Mohamed Abdulle Hassan, the militants mounted little resistance to the advancing forces. Al-Shabaab also does not issue a statement on the raid. The joint forces are slated to continue their cleanup operation in the remaining central and southern areas that are under insurgent control.
January 29 Somali government forces engage al-Shabaab militants near Garbaharay in the southwestern Gedo province. According to Somali National Army commander Abdullahi Mohamed Abshir, SNA soldiers therein apprehend two mid-level insurgent leaders. Gedo remains one of the last regions with a few districts controlled by the militant group. Interim Juba Administration forces and AMISOM troops seize three small towns in the Lower Juba province from al-Shabaab. According to IJA commander Mustaf Geedi, the joint forces killed many militants, whereas two allied soldiers sustained minor wounds. The raid is part of a larger cleanup operation by IJA forces in Jubaland. Somali government forces assisted by AMISOM troops capture Janay-Abdalla and Farwamo villages in the Middle Jubba province from al-Shabaab. The joint forces liberate the Jubba river localities after a brief skirmish with the militants. No casualties have thus far been reported. Additionally, al-Shabaab does not issue a statement on the raid.
January 31 Somali government forces engage al-Shabaab militants on the outskirts of Baladwein in the south-central Hiran province. According to the commander of the Somali National Army's tenth battalion Colonel Isak Idris, the state troops killed a number of insurgents while sustaining some wounds. Total casualties are uncertain. Al-Shabaab does not issue a statement on the skirmish. Idris also indicates that they have flushed out the militants from the area. Governor of the Lower Shebelle province Abdulkadir Mohamed Nor "Sidi" announces that an airstrike has struck an al-Shabaab convoy and training base in the Dugale village. According to Nor, a U.S. aircraft fired at least three missiles, respectively targeting a fighting vehicle, a residence containing foreign fighters, and a militant installation where they were wrapping up a training course. He asserts that between 45 and 60 insurgents are in the process killed. Their training base is also demolished. Additionally, a local resident reports that the area's inhabitants vacated the area upon hearing the loud explosion. Bay province official Ahmed Adan later specifies that the airstrike was targeting a convoy of senior al-Shabaab leaders near Dinsoor. According to Adan, two local residences as well as a militant training base were targeted. He also indicates that he has ground confirmation that a number of the group's fighters and one senior commander were killed during the aerial attack, which took place as the insurgents were traveling in vehicles toward the training facility. The identity of the slain al-Shabaab leader is not yet known. The Dinsoor locality is one of the last remaining urban areas under militant control. Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby later confirms that the U.S. Hellfire missile strike was targeting al-Shabaab's chief of external operations and planning for intelligence and security, Yusuf Dheeq. He indicates that whether the militant leader was slain is being assessed, and that there appear to be no civilian casualties. The Federal Government of Somalia subsequently issues a press statement officially confirming that Dheeq has been killed.
February
February 1 Somali National Army commander in the Gedo province Jama Muse announces that government forces have captured a senior al-Shabaab official. Muse does not specify the insurgent leader's identity. However, he indicates that the rebel commander was in charge of bomb making. The seizure comes seven days after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called for more militant defections.
February 3 Somali national army troops apprehend al-Shabaab commander Olow Barrow in the Middle Shabelle province. Senior military official Mohamed Osman indicates that the insurgent leader had been injured during a skirmish near Fidow locality. Barrow is slated to be transferred to Mogadishu for interrogation.
February 8