Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, January 25, 2023 Authors: Data Cutoff: January 25, 2023, at 10 a.m.

Al Shabaab continued a wave of suicide attacks against the SFG in retaliation for the ongoing SFG-led offensive in central Somalia. [...] Somali officials claimed to repel the attack with US drone support, but Somali troops officially withdrew toward the Galgudud–Middle Shabelle regional border on January 21, indicating Somali forces sustained significant losses and could not hold the base.3 US-supported Somali forces in neighboring Mudug region have since intensified efforts to clear al Shabaab havens in the Harardhere district to. [...] Somali federal and state forces also seized a crossroads town in the Lower Jubba region on January 21, claiming they will use it as a launching pad for future operations in Lower Jubba’s Afmadow district.9 The SFG may have deployed Danab special forces and Eritrean- trained special forces to the area, which further indicates impending offensive operations.10 If true, this would be the first time t. [...] The pledges reportedly took place in Inekar, which is much further south in the Ménaka region than JNIM’s prior strongholds.19 JNIM Emir Iyad ag Ghali was also present during the pledges and had reportedly traveled around the Ménaka region for several weeks prior.20 Ag Ghali’s travel highlights JNIM’s increased freedom of movement since the end of the French Operation Barkhane. [...] The TTP announced new regional appointments for TTP leaders across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan in February 2022.29 The TTP announced appointments for new TTP ministries in December 2022, including ministries for politics, judiciary affairs, and education, indicating the TTP seeks to expand and formalize its governing structures.30 The TTP also attempted to collect taxes fr.