Countries › Somalia › May 2025
Somalia: conflict events in May 2025
Monthly report from UCDP event data.
In May 2025, UCDP recorded 36 organized-violence events in Somalia, with 498 estimated deaths. That is +50% compared with 24 events the month before. The death toll range is 496 to 554.
83% of the month's events were state-based armed conflict.
Events were concentrated in Hiran region (11), Middle Shabelle region (6), Bari region (6).
The most active pairing was Government of Somalia - Al-Shabaab with 30 events.
Where events happened
Regions, May 2025
| Region | Events | Est. deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Hiran region | 11 | 98 |
| Middle Shabelle region | 6 | 62 |
| Bari region | 6 | 60 |
| Bay region | 3 | 120 |
| Lower Shabelle region | 3 | 6 |
| Lower Juba region | 2 | 55 |
| Banaadir region | 2 | 21 |
| Galgudud region | 2 | 6 |
Deadliest events, May 2025
| Date | Where | Parties | Est. deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 May 2025 | Bay region | Government of Somalia vs Al-Shabaab State-based, 3 sources | 120 |
| 17 May 2025 | — | Government of Somalia vs Al-Shabaab State-based | 70 |
| 2 May 2025 | Middle Shabelle region | Government of Somalia vs Al-Shabaab State-based | 50 |
| 22 May 2025 | Lower Juba region | Government of Somalia vs Al-Shabaab State-based, 2 sources | 48 |
| 20 May 2025 | Bulo Burti district Hiran region | Government of Somalia vs Al-Shabaab State-based, 3 sources | 46 |
| 18 May 2025 | Mogadishu district Banaadir region | Government of Somalia vs Al-Shabaab State-based, 4 sources | 21 |
| 15 May 2025 | Bossaso district Bari region | Puntland State of Somalia vs IS Non-state | 21 |
| 31 May 2025 | Bossaso district Bari region | Puntland State of Somalia vs IS Non-state | 15 |
| 18 May 2025 | Bulo Burti district Hiran region | Government of Somalia vs Al-Shabaab State-based, 2 sources | 12 |
| 29 May 2025 | Bulo Burti district Hiran region | Government of Somalia vs Al-Shabaab State-based, 2 sources | 10 |
Parties
| Party | Events |
|---|---|
| Government of Somalia | 30 |
| Al-Shabaab | 30 |
| Puntland State of Somalia | 6 |
| IS | 6 |
Type of violence
| Category | Events |
|---|---|
| State-based | 30 |
| Non-state | 6 |
| One-sided | 0 |
All months
Monthly reports:Jul 2026Jun 2026May 2026Apr 2026Mar 2026Feb 2026Jan 2026Dec 2025Nov 2025Oct 2025Sep 2025Aug 2025Jul 2025Jun 2025May 2025Apr 2025Mar 2025Feb 2025Jan 2025Dec 2024Nov 2024Oct 2024Sep 2024Aug 2024Jul 2024
Source: UCDP GED and Candidate Events, CC BY 4.0. Counts use the "best" fatality estimate. See methodology.