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BATTLE // January 27, 2017

Battle of Kulbiyow

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Overview

The Battle of Kulbiyow took place on 27 January 2017, when al-Shabaab militants attacked and took control of the military base and town of Kulbiyow, held by the Somali Armed Forces and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Kulbiyow saw al-Shabaab militants attack and seize the military base and town of Kulbiyow, which had been held by the Somali Armed Forces and the Kenya Defence Forces as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The loss of the base represented a reversal for AMISOM and Somali government forces, demonstrating al-Shabaab's continued capacity to conduct offensive operations and overrun established military positions despite the broader international effort to roll back the group's territorial control during this phase of the Somali Civil War.

Forces & casualties

Troop strength

  • AMISOM120
    medium
  • Harakat al-Chabab al-Moudjahidin150
    medium

Harakat al-Chabab al-Moudjahidin fielded a 1.3 : 1 numerical advantage

Commanders (1)

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Last verified June 2026
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