The “Off-Ramp” from al-Shabaab: Disengagement During the Offensive in Somalia

Al-Shabaab has been evicted—at least temporarily—from scores of towns and villages in the central Somali Federal Member States of Hirshabelle and Galmudug since summer 2022. While this began as an “organic” uprising led by clan militias (the Ma’awisley) against the insurgent’s excessive demands for “taxation” and recruits, it soon transformed into a major state offensive. Within this context, in May 2023 our team conducted interviews with former members of al-Shabaab who had been based in these locations to explore how and why they left the organization, with a particular focus on the extent to which their decisions to disengage were influenced by the offensive, and how their clans helped motivate and facilitate exit.