Danab Brigade: Somalia's Elite Counter-Terror Force

Somalia is one particular country that is likely to be near the top of just about everybody’s list when it comes to war-torn conflict zones, brutal civil wars, and failed states. Between the de-facto independent government in the northern Somaliland region, the autonomous state of Puntland at Somalia’s outermost tip, the fragile and often fiery Somali government, and the continued resurgence of the simultaneously Somali-ethnonationalist and jihadist terror group al-Shabaab, Somalia is among the world’s most profoundly broken nations. It seems to be very far away from ever finding its footing as a coherent sovereign state. But among the carnage and the chaos, one group of elite special operators stands out—and not a group on loan from the United States, Europe, Russia, China, or anywhere else on Earth, but one made up of Somalis and directly loyal to the Somali National Army. They are called the Danab Brigade. Armed with the best weapons foreign aid can buy, a distinctive sky-blue beret, and a wealth of knowledge taken direct from the mouths of American Navy SEALs, they are an enigmatic and deadly force at work all across the deserts of Somalia. This fascinating military unit has a unique history and purpose: how they came to be, how they do their work, and just how long they have left in a state that not even they can keep from spiraling toward a total collapse.

Key Takeaways

Founded in 2013 with 150 initial recruits, the Danab Brigade has grown into a 2,000-strong force initially trained by Bancroft Global Development and US military advisors.
To prevent factionalism, Danab mandates recruitment across multiple Somali clans, creating a unified, merit-based force rather than an enforcement arm for a single political entity.
Since mid-2022, Danab commandos have reportedly cleared 90 percent of al-Shabaab targets in specific offensive zones, dismantling terror control over three districts in Galmudug province.
Operating primarily with standard AK-47s and minimal advanced equipment, Danab forces rely heavily on US intelligence and drone monitoring to conduct high-risk raids on al-Shabaab territory.
Despite immense tactical success, the brigade's overall impact is limited by the regular Somali military's inability to securely hold the territory that Danab commandos capture.
Danab remains reliant on continuous backing from the United States, leaving the unit's long-term operational survival vulnerable to shifting political priorities in Washington.

Historical Context and the Rise of al-Shabaab

The history of the Danab Brigade cannot be understood without context—and specifically, without a clear understanding of what Somalia has been through over the last half-century. While Somalia hasn’t known much peace at all since it first gained its independence in 1950, the really difficult years began in 1969, when Muhammad Siad Barre rose to power in a coup after the nation’s prior president was assassinated. Through famine and mass starvation in the 1970s, and war with Ethiopia and its Cuban allies through the 1980s, Somalia narrowly survived the Barre years. When he was overthrown in 1991, the entire nation descended into chaos. For the following several years, Somalia would know perpetual civil war between a wide range of warlord and militia factions, with a US-led intervention trying and failing to put a stop to the violence. Even after the Somali government technically did consolidate, that war has only continued. Intermittent flares in the bloodshed proved more than enough to keep the entire fractured nation on a knife’s edge. But since the mid-2000s, no armed group in Somalia has been quite so devastating as the al-Shabaab organization. With a name translating to “the Youth,” and a history tracing back to popular guerrilla resistance against an Ethiopian invasion of Somalia in late 2006, the group rapidly radicalized through the late 2000s and picked up widespread support as a popular insurgent movement. An Islamist and fiercely Somali-nationalist group, al-Shabaab claims to represent the interests of the entire Somali diaspora, even outside Somalia's own borders. It aspires to create a new, larger Somali state under Islamic law, spanning across the African Horn. The group declared allegiance to al-Qaeda in 2012 and has long relied on suicide attacks and brutal violence to fight against the Somali government. It is known for its harsh imposition of Sharia law on the areas of Somalia that it controls, and for its continued resilience against counterattacks by the Somali government, even when the government is supported directly by foreign powers. Al-Shabaab is present all over Somalia, holding significant territory in the south, and maintaining bases even in Somaliland and Puntland, where the government in Mogadishu wields next to no power. Against al-Shabaab's rising tide, international onlookers watching Somalia understood that something more was necessary if the nation's fragile government was going to prevent a complete al-Shabaab takeover sooner or later.

Forging the Danab Brigade Through Foreign Assistance

The solution to the escalating crisis came by way of the United States, which was at that time still deeply embroiled in Afghanistan, trying to cope with the Syrian Civil War and the broader repercussions of the Arab Spring. The United States was working overtime to create any points of stabilization that it possibly could as bulwarks in the evolving War on Terror. In Somalia, America's vision was ambitious, but precise in terms of what exactly Mogadishu would need if it was going to prevent Somalia from getting any worse. America's choice to support the Somali central government was much more a matter of urgent necessity than a simple policy choice. Despite the highly questionable activities of the Somali government, backing that regime was deemed better than kicking off a whole new round of large-scale civil war. In order to try and ensure Mogadishu's survival, America was going to give them a weapon: a highly trained group of loyal Somalis who were capable of standing up to al-Shabaab in a direct firefight and coming out on top. The group would have to be able to include members of many Somali clans, not just one, and its members would have to be willing to work together in service to the Somali state, not their own clan leaders. They would have to be very well-trained to stand up to al-Shabaab militants who were, at that time, the most fearsome fighters in the country. They would also have to be exceptionally brave in order to hold their ground against fighters with a deservedly terrifying reputation for their brutality in combat. The training and selection processes were to be carried out not by the US military, but by a private military contractor known as Bancroft Global Development. Previously known as Landmine Clearance International, Bancroft had gained a reputation for training hardened units in war-torn nations, although Somalia has since become the group's primary focus. Their trainees were a total of 150 recruits, who began the process at Baledogle Airfield, about 90 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu, in October 2013. After a six-month training course, the recruits who had made it through Bancroft's training were inaugurated to the first class of commandos. The group was given a name—Danab, meaning "lightning"—and by the end of 2014, the unit had swelled its ranks to include somewhere around five to six hundred commandos in total. The Danab Brigade was born, its mission was urgent, and it wasted no time getting to work.

Recruitment, Vetting, and Building a Meritocratic Force

In the early days of the Danab Brigade, the Somali military was not a place where the average person wanted to be. At that time, the military was only loosely held together by its few loyal officers, and was hardly more of a formidable force than any of the country's patchwork of militias. Its recruits largely came from the poorest of the poor across Somalia, enticed to the military by the opportunity to make a small, but non-zero amount of money. When Danab got its start, it brought together the relatively few Somali soldiers who had been willing to distinguish themselves over and above what was expected to earn their pay. Those soldiers have since proved more than capable of surpassing expectations. Non-military recruits are also welcome in Danab, and undergo a crash course in basic training as part of their selection. All recruits are scrutinized for physical fitness, political affiliation, and socioeconomic background. They have biometric data collected and evaluated to ensure that they’ve not committed any known human rights violations in the past. Since the early days, Somalia has begun to target more experienced combat veterans for recruitment in Danab, especially as the Somali government has waged a more active counteroffensive against al-Shabaab and taken some steps to improve the quality of its troops overall. Highly educated Somalis are in particular demand to join Danab’s ranks, further helping to shape perceptions of the unit as some of the best that Somalia has to offer. Women, too, were allowed to qualify in Danab by 2021, and a handful have since joined the group’s ranks. Equally important within Danab is the group’s emphasis on recruiting from multiple Somali clans, in order to avoid the intense factionalism and clan loyalties that permeate all of Somali politics. It would be all too easy for Danab to gain a reputation as a US-backed, highly trained enforcement arm of just one clan, and thus quickly become despised by all the others. Instead, Danab has recruited from clans representing a range of Somali federal states. One of the eventual goals for the unit is to be able to deploy brigades made up of local troops in each of Somalia’s states, making the group into an elite combination of military and police forces trusted by the local population. By weighing a recruit's clan loyalties against their individual merit as a potential soldier, Bancroft and the United States have been able to keep Danab from seeming like an occupying army, or an extension of the will of whatever person wields the greatest influence in Mogadishu on a given day. When a Danab recruit enters the group's selection process, they face an ordeal deeply inspired by the US Army Rangers, Special Forces operators, and Navy SEALs who've had a major impact on the unit.

Advanced Tactical Training and Command Expansion

Soldiers who make it through the group's hazy selection trials receive intense training on both urban and rural warfare, with an emphasis on both carrying out and dealing with the asymmetric warfare that has become commonplace across Somalia. Unlike other military elements within Somalia, Danab is expected to wage war on al-Shabaab's territory, dealing with the best of the group's fighters and using its own tactics against it. They are taught how to navigate through the Somali savannah, engage in combat at close quarters, and conduct raids and helicopter insertions against enemy camps. Although they initially received nearly all of their training from foreigners, Danab's own commandos are now responsible for handling a majority of the training of new recruits in the 2020s. Those recruits come in batches of about 350 at a time to replenish and slowly grow the ranks of their unit. Trainees within Danab's ranks have proven more than able to pick up on the hard lessons supplied to them, first by Bancroft, and then by the US Navy SEALs and other military advisors. From their start as a small platoon, the group's numbers have swelled into a full-on brigade, with an estimated unit strength of around two thousand troops at a given time. The objective is to eventually reach a size of three to four thousand. With that increase in size has come an increase in direct involvement from the United States. The United States Special Operations Command's Africa section and the United States Africa Command maintain a direct presence at Baledogle Airfield, sending their own elite instructors to work alongside contractors in training the next generation of Danab troops. Their garrison and headquarters at Baledogle have been significantly expanded, to the point that Danab now runs what is functionally its own command center, coordinating its own activities across Somalia. The Danab Brigade's operations are shrouded in mystery, partly owing to the secret and intense nature of many of their operations, and partly to the communications blackout that still exists over much of modern Somalia. However, it is known that Danab began its work quickly after its first few platoons graduated from training. In 2017, Danab operators were on the ground alongside members of SEAL Team Six during a raid on a part of the Shebelle River called Barii, pursuing an al-Shabaab leader colloquially known as Mahad Karate. The mission was unsuccessful and claimed the life of a Navy SEAL, Senior Chief Petty Officer Kyle Milliken. Two other SEALs were wounded, while none of the accompanying Danab commandos were hit in the firefight. Danab did not bear the blame for the casualties, and it was not long afterward that the US began advocating for an expanded version of the brigade.

Frontline Combat and the Ongoing Offensive

In the following years, Danab launched regular self-run operations against al-Shabaab across a broad swath of territory in Somalia’s central and southern reaches. Frequently, they are joined by US close air support, artillery fire, and joint terminal attack controllers on the ground. Information from the ground is limited, but American troops appear to regard the brigade’s work positively, as do a detachment of Turkish forces that assists with training some elements of the Danab force. Over the years, Danab’s combat medics have gotten markedly more proficient in their work, saving lives and allowing commandos to return to the fight. The commandos have also become highly adept at responding to al-Shabaab’s particular combat approach, including surprise attacks in the savannah and the use of truck bombs, rocket-propelled grenades, and waves of suicide bombers. Since the start of the 2020s, Danab has been engaged in a broadening offensive against al-Shabaab across a specific section of Somalia’s territory. According to Foreign Policy, the group has been able to clear roughly ninety percent of al-Shabaab targets in that area since mid-2022. In late 2023, Danab dismantled al-Shabaab control over three districts in the Somali province of Galmudug. Press materials circulated about the group indicate that Danab has led the liberation of well over 100 towns and villages across Somalia, a figure that clearly distinguishes them as the only group within the country capable of performing operations on that scale. In 2023, the group’s latest crop of training graduates had their photos circulated among the Western press, serving as a clear sign of just how enthusiastic the United States remains about the success of their ambitious commando project. Danab has taken heavy losses in the fight with al-Shabaab; the 2023 training class was rushed across Somalia just after graduation to replenish two battalions that had seen over a hundred Danab commandoes killed the month prior. For the soldiers of Danab, that risk will endure whether they go to the front lines or not; if al-Shabaab takes over more of Somalia, they will be in the crosshairs regardless. The group is adept at working jointly with local militias, who are, at times, the only other meaningful force willing to fight against al-Shabaab. The rest of the Somali military remains under-trained, whereas the militias in the countryside tend to be much more strongly motivated to take part in operations that will protect their homes, children, and communities. Danab has stayed aloof from the politics of Mogadishu, avoiding being used as a pawn in power struggles by emphasizing their close relationship with the US and their status as the only real military force that can act as a bulwark against al-Shabaab.

Implications, Limitations, and the Future of Somalia

Danab has been able to achieve its combat success without the advanced weaponry or even the body armor of most global special operators. With some exceptions, Danab operatives are armed with little more than standard AK-47s, and though their stocks of equipment are improving, they are poster boys for the idea of doing more with less. They rely on US intelligence and military advisors to figure out where, when, and why to attack, but by and large, it is Danab on the front lines getting the work done. US operators take part only rarely, and are typically not present alongside the group’s smaller units as they move across the countryside. Instead, those groups are monitored by drones and reconnaissance aircraft, so that American advisers can send backup in case they run into more trouble than they can handle alone. While the Danab Brigade has been largely successful in its combat operations against al-Shabaab, the group is often forced to watch helplessly as much of its work is undone by the terror group after Danab moves on. Fierce as they are, the Danab Brigade consists of just two thousand troops, meaning they do not have the strength by themselves to protect the targets they seize or hold the territory they capture. Instead, that is the work of the regular Somali military and forces set up by the UN to assist with Somalia’s internal crisis. Those regular troops and UN-backed forces are simply not capable of holding out against al-Shabaab in force. Danab is the tip of the spear in Somalia, but the rest of the spear remains fragile. Until that changes, Danab’s victories will often be fleeting, resulting in a slow, attritional progress that comes from killing members of al-Shabaab one raid at a time. Danab's standing inside Somalia is also vulnerable due to a lack of security within the country and questions regarding the reliability of American support. Danab is empowered by a central government in Mogadishu that is surviving but remains weak. If that government becomes too weak to exert its influence, Danab risks disintegration. Furthermore, Danab exists at the mercy of political realities in Washington, where shifting priorities could see American support pulled away. Despite these looming threats, Danab appears determined to carry on with its mission, liberating Somalia kilometer-by-kilometer. Following a convoy of Danab operators in 2022, BBC reporter Andrew Harding observed a platoon highly motivated to continue the fight, having recently killed sixty al-Shabaab fighters and pushed several hundred more out of the town of Bukure. For the first time in generations, Somalis liberated from al-Shabaab control are able to live in relative confidence, trusting a homegrown Somali force capable of sustained offensive operations. Danab is proof of concept that a multi-clan, meritocratic organization can exist within Somalia. If Somalia is ever going to chart a real path toward a better future, it is likely to be Danab that leads the way. They may not be the most vaunted special operators on Earth, but they are desperately needed in the fight for their nation's survival.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the special forces in Somalia?

The special forces in Somalia are the Danab Brigade, an elite unit within the Somali National Army, made up of members from multiple clans and loyal to the Somali government. The Danab Brigade has a unique history and purpose, and they have been trained by American Navy SEALs. They are armed with the best weapons foreign aid can buy and wear a distinctive sky-blue beret. The Danab Brigade plays a crucial role in the nation's ongoing efforts to combat al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups. They have been operating in Somalia since the mid-2000s, and their existence is a result of the country's need for a highly trained and loyal force to prevent a complete takeover by al-Shabaab.

Were there navy SEALs in Somalia?

Yes, American Navy SEALs have been involved in training the Danab Brigade, an elite unit within the Somali National Army. The SEALs have provided training and guidance to the Danab Brigade, helping them to become a highly effective and deadly force in the fight against al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups in Somalia. The exact number of Navy SEALs deployed to Somalia is not publicly known, but their involvement has been crucial in shaping the Danab Brigade into the elite force it is today.

How many Delta Force operators were killed in Somalia?

On October 3, 1993, during the Battle of Mogadishu, 18 American soldiers, including several Delta Force operators, were killed in a fierce firefight with Somali militiamen. The battle was part of the United Nations' effort to capture key lieutenants of the Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, and it resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 Somali civilians and combatants. The exact number of Delta Force operators killed in Somalia is not publicly known, but it is reported that several members of the elite unit were among the casualties.

Are US troops still in Somalia?

As of 2024, US troops are still present in Somalia, although the exact number is not publicly known. The US has maintained a military presence in Somalia since the early 2000s, with troops deployed to the country to support the Somali government's efforts to combat al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups. In recent years, the US has conducted several airstrikes against al-Shabaab targets in Somalia, and American special operations forces have been involved in training and advising the Danab Brigade. The US military presence in Somalia is part of a broader effort to support stability and security in the region.

What is the Danab in Somalia?

The Danab Brigade, also known as the Somali Danab, is an elite special operations unit within the Somali National Army. The Danab Brigade is made up of members from multiple clans and is loyal to the Somali government. The unit was established with the support of the United States and has been trained by American Navy SEALs. The Danab Brigade plays a crucial role in the nation's ongoing efforts to combat al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups, and they have been involved in several high-profile operations against these groups. The Danab Brigade is known for its bravery, skill, and teamwork, and it has become a symbol of Somali nationalism and resistance against terrorism.

What is the main problem in Somalia?

The main problem in Somalia is the ongoing conflict and instability caused by the terrorist group al-Shabaab, which has been waging a violent insurgency against the Somali government since the mid-2000s. Al-Shabaab, which means 'the Youth' in Arabic, is an Islamist and Somali-nationalist group that seeks to establish a new, larger Somali state under Islamic law. The group has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings and assassinations, and has imposed harsh Sharia law on areas under its control. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians and has displaced hundreds of thousands more, making Somalia one of the most fragile and unstable countries in the world.

Were the green berets in Somalia?

Yes, American Green Berets, also known as the US Army Special Forces, have been involved in training and advising the Somali National Army, including the Danab Brigade. The Green Berets have provided training and guidance to the Danab Brigade, helping them to develop their skills and capabilities in counterterrorism and unconventional warfare. The exact number of Green Berets deployed to Somalia is not publicly known, but their involvement has been crucial in shaping the Danab Brigade into the elite force it is today. The Green Berets have been involved in several other countries in Africa, including Niger and Mali, as part of the US military's efforts to support stability and security in the region.

Is there a US military base in Somalia?

There are reports of a US military base in Somalia, although the exact location and nature of the base are not publicly known. The US has maintained a military presence in Somalia since the early 2000s, with troops deployed to the country to support the Somali government's efforts to combat al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups. The US has also conducted several airstrikes against al-Shabaab targets in Somalia, and American special operations forces have been involved in training and advising the Danab Brigade. However, the US has not officially acknowledged the existence of a military base in Somalia, and the details of any such base remain classified.