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Home› Conflicts› Somali Civil War
REC // BRIEFING
// OPERATION BRIEFING · THEATER FILE

SomaliCivilWar

1978–

Civil war taking place in Somalia since 1991

Era
1978–
SIDES
58
⚔ WAR CIVIL WAR

SomaliCivilWar

United States United Kingdom Kuwait Egypt Saudi Arabia South Africa +44
VS
United States Croatia North Korea Kenya Ethiopia Iran +2
Start: 26.01.1991 Duration: Ongoing Participants: 58 countries Weapons: 90 systems
Overview
Sides
Battles & Operations
Weapons
01 / Overview
Somali Civil War
Date
1978–present
Type
civil war
Battles & Operations
52 records
Duration
Ongoing
Participants
United States United Kingdom Kuwait Egypt Saudi Arabia South Africa +52
Weapon System
90
02 / Sides
Belligerents 58 participants
United States United States Primary United Kingdom United Kingdom Primary Kuwait Kuwait Primary Egypt Egypt Primary Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Primary South Africa South Africa Primary Algeria Algeria Primary Ireland Ireland Primary Indonesia Indonesia Primary Norway Norway Primary Canada Canada Primary Spain Spain Primary Belgium Belgium Primary Australia Australia Primary Finland Finland Primary Sweden Sweden Primary Denmark Denmark Primary Italy Italy Primary Switzerland Switzerland Primary Austria Austria Primary Greece Greece Primary New Zealand New Zealand Primary India India Primary Turkey Turkey Primary Kenya Kenya Primary Ethiopia Ethiopia Primary Ghana Ghana Secondary France France Primary Fiji Fiji Primary Russia Russia Primary Germany Germany Primary Romania Romania Primary Jordan Jordan Primary Malaysia Malaysia Primary Pakistan Pakistan Primary Qatar Qatar Primary Djibouti Djibouti Primary United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates Primary South Korea South Korea Primary Bangladesh Bangladesh Primary Morocco Morocco Primary Philippines Philippines Primary Tunisia Tunisia Primary Nigeria Nigeria Primary Uganda Uganda Primary Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Primary Botswana Botswana Primary Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Secondary Somalia Somalia Primary Burundi Burundi Primary
VS
United States United States Primary Croatia Croatia Primary North Korea North Korea Primary Kenya Kenya Primary Ethiopia Ethiopia Primary Iran Iran Primary Uganda Uganda Primary Somalia Somalia Primary
03 / Battles & Operations · 52 records
Battle Afraad Rebellion 1978–1982 Battle Somaliland War of Independence 1981–1991 Battle Burco-Duuray offensive 1984 Battle Battle of the Mountains 1984 Battle 1988 Hargeisa-Burao offensive 1988 Battle Battle of Cadaadley 1988 Battle Battle of Hargeisa 1988–1989 Battle Battle of Burao 1988 Battle Somali Civil War 1991 Battle Battle of Dilla 1991 Battle Capture of Borama 1991 Battle 1991 Zeila incursion 1991 decisive victory b Battle Operation Deliverance 1992 Battle Unified Task Force 1992–1993 Battle United Nations Operation in Somalia II 1993–1995 Battle Operation Gothic Serpent 1993 Battle June 1993 attack on Pakistani military in Somalia 1993 Battle Battle of Checkpoint Pasta 1993 Battle Battle of Mogadishu 1993 Battle Dobley airstrike 2003 Battle Battle of Jilib 2006–2007 Battle Battle of Mogadishu 2006 Battle American military intervention in Somalia 2007 ongoing Battle Dhusamareb airstrike 2008 Battle Battle for Central Somalia 2009 Battle Battle of Kismayo 2009 Battle Battle of Mogadishu 2009 Battle Battle of South Mogadishu 2009 Battle Battle of Wabho 2009 Battle Battle of Mogadishu 2010–2011 Battle Battle of Beledweyne 2010 Battle Operation Linda Nchi 2011 Battle Battle of Deynile 2011 Battle Battle of Gedo 2011 Battle Battle of Beledweyne 2011 Battle Battle of Elwaq 2011 Battle Battle of Jubbada Hoose 2011 Battle Battle of Yurkud 2012 Battle Battle of Kismayo 2012 decisive victory b Battle Bulo Marer hostage rescue attempt 2013 Battle Operation Indian Ocean 2014–2015 Battle Galgala campaign 2014 Battle Battle of Leego 2015 Battle Battle of Janale 2015 Battle Battle of El Adde 2016 Battle Qandala campaign 2016 Battle Battle of Kulbiyow 2017 Battle Battle of Af Urur 2017 Battle Golweyn ambush 2017 decisive victory a Battle 2022 Central Somalia offensive 2022–2023 Battle Battle of Ras Kamboni 2024 Battle 2025 Shabelle offensive 2025
04 / Weapons & Equipment · 74 systems
WEAPONS & EQUIPMENT SUMMARY
ORIGIN · COUNTRY
United States
42 %47
Russia
19 %21
People's Republic of China
4 %4
Italy
4 %4
Turkey
3 %3
ORIGIN · COMPANY
FN Herstal
5 %6
Bell Textron
5 %6
China North Industries Group Corporation Limited
5 %6
Norinco
4 %4
Colt's Manufacturing Company
4 %4
Total 90 distinct systems
Avg. Equipment Age 9 years all equipment
SIDE A 6 years avg. age
SIDE B 18 years avg. age
MOST EXPENSIVE $41 Mn · 2000 Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
Weapons & Equipment74systems
Country
CATEGORY
M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90AC-130Ground Attack / CAS Aircraft87Sikorsky CH-53E Super StallionHeavy Lift Helicopters87Grumman A-6 IntruderGround Attack / CAS Aircraft87Sikorsky UH-60 Black HawkUtility / Transport Helicopters86HumveeLight Tactical Vehicles79MQ-9 ReaperReconnaissance / Surveillance Drones79Grumman F-14 TomcatAir Superiority Fighters78Bushmaster M4 Type CarbineCarbines76Bell AH-1 SuperCobraAttack Helicopters76M939 truckHeavy Tactical Trucks75Lockheed C-130 HerculesTactical Transports75+26more →BTR-50Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)47M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90MP40Machine Pistols71CenturionTanks75M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90AK-63Assault Rifles66UziMachine Pistols62Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965Assault Rifles60M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63CondorArmoured Personnel Carriers (APC)48M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965Assault Rifles60M47 PattonTanks38M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90UziMachine Pistols62MP40Machine Pistols71AKMAssault Rifles69M60 machine gunGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67Beretta BM 59Battle Rifles66UziMachine Pistols62WZ551Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)53M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90UziMachine Pistols62M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90MP40Machine Pistols71AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63UziMachine Pistols62Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965Assault Rifles60M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90MP40Machine Pistols71M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63B1 CentauroDestroyers57KS-19Field Guns46M198Towed Artillery & Mortars70M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90FN FNCAssault Rifles73UziMachine Pistols62M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90Joint Direct Attack MunitionGPS / INS Guided Bombs (JDAM)65M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63UziMachine Pistols62M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90MP40Machine Pistols71AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90AKMAssault Rifles69SIG SG 540Assault Rifles75Assault Amphibious VehicleArmoured Personnel Carriers (APC)61Fiat 6614Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)45M72 LAWMultiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)22M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90PPSh-41Machine Pistols71AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63UziMachine Pistols62B1 CentauroDestroyers57Daewoo Precision Industries K2Assault Rifles84RPG-2Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPG)46M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90MP40Machine Pistols71CarcanoBolt-Action Rifles63M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90MP40Machine Pistols71M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63UziMachine Pistols62M48 PattonTanks42M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90AKMAssault Rifles69AK-63Assault Rifles66UziMachine Pistols62Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965Assault Rifles60M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90Bayraktar TB2Combat / Strike Drones73Baykar Bayraktar AkıncıCombat / Strike Drones73AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63UziMachine Pistols62AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67Vickers Main Battle Tank Mark 3Tanks63UziMachine Pistols62M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90D-30Towed Artillery & Mortars75Mil Mi-24Attack Helicopters75AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63UziMachine Pistols62BM-21 GradMultiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)61T-54/55Tanks51M47 PattonTanks38M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90MP40Machine Pistols71AKMAssault Rifles69UziMachine Pistols62ERC 90 SagaieRecon Vehicles39UziMachine Pistols62Type 54 semi-automatic pistolPistols61M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90MP40Machine Pistols71AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90M1 AbramsTanks80MP40Machine Pistols71DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63UziMachine Pistols62M41 Walker BulldogTanks35M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90MP40Machine Pistols71AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67UziMachine Pistols62Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965Assault Rifles60M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90MP40Machine Pistols71AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67AK-63Assault Rifles66M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63UziMachine Pistols62Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965Assault Rifles60M47 PattonTanks38MPT-76Battle Rifles83Degtyaryova PekhotnyLight Machine Guns (LMG/SAW)71M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90MP40Machine Pistols71ACV-300Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV)64M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63B1 CentauroDestroyers57M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90M60 machine gunGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)69UziMachine Pistols62CondorArmoured Personnel Carriers (APC)48FahdArmoured Personnel Carriers (APC)68M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63M48 PattonTanks42MambaArmoured Personnel Carriers (APC)64M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90AKMAssault Rifles69M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90AKMAssault Rifles69M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90AKMAssault Rifles69M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63UziMachine Pistols62M249 SAWLight Machine Guns (LMG/SAW)79D-30Towed Artillery & Mortars75DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67Type 56Assault Rifles59Type 69 RPGRocket-Propelled Grenades (RPG)54M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67AMD 65Assault Rifles64Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965Assault Rifles609K38 IglaMANPADS72B-10Recoilless Rifles64AGS-17Automatic Grenade Launchers (AGL)56M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90AKMAssault Rifles69M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965Assault Rifles60M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90AKMAssault Rifles69M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63UziMachine Pistols62SAR 80Assault Rifles64M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67UziMachine Pistols62D-30Towed Artillery & Mortars75Mil Mi-24Attack Helicopters75AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67UziMachine Pistols62BMP-2Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV)61Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965Assault Rifles60T-54/55Tanks51M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90SG-43 GoryunovGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)75MP40Machine Pistols71AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67UziMachine Pistols62Colt Canada C7Assault Rifles78UziMachine Pistols62FerretRecon Vehicles46M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90RPG-7Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPG)84M40 rifleSniper Rifles75Bayraktar TB2Combat / Strike Drones73Baykar Bayraktar AkıncıCombat / Strike Drones73AKMAssault Rifles69DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67AK-63Assault Rifles66AK-47Assault Rifles64UziMachine Pistols62ZU-23-2Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)5660 mm mortar M2Towed Artillery & Mortars48+1more →M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90Bell 412Utility / Transport Helicopters70DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67UziMachine Pistols62BMP-2Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV)61

Each system appears only once in the list.

1M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90MASS2AC-130Ground Attack / CAS Aircraft87MASS3Sikorsky CH-53E Super StallionHeavy Lift Helicopters87MASS4Grumman A-6 IntruderGround Attack / CAS Aircraft87MASS5Sikorsky UH-60 Black HawkUtility / Transport Helicopters86MASS6Daewoo Precision Industries K2Assault Rifles84MASS7RPG-7Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPG)84MASS8MPT-76Battle Rifles83MASS9M1 AbramsTanks80MASS10HumveeLight Tactical Vehicles79MASS
1Sikorsky CH-53E Super StallionHeavy Lift Helicopters$41 Mn20002Mil Mi-24Attack Helicopters$36 Mn3M1 AbramsTanks$24 Mn20224MQ-9 ReaperReconnaissance / Surveillance Drones$16 Mn20265Bell 412Utility / Transport Helicopters$15 Mn20226B1 CentauroDestroyers$2 Mn7Vickers Main Battle Tank Mark 3Tanks$2 Mn8M198Towed Artillery & Mortars$527 K9M48 PattonTanks$309 K196110HumveeLight Tactical Vehicles$220 K2011
📚 Sources
  1. Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP)
  2. Correlates of War (CoW) project
  3. Official archives and academic literature