Yann de Villeneuve

Designer of COIN vol.XV "A Fading Star : Insurgency and Piracy in Somalia" (2007-2014).
International Relations, prior Intelligence Analyst.

[Yann de Villeneuve @AFadingStar1]

A Fading Star is up on P500! Thank you @gmtgames @joe_dewhurst and of course @Volko26 ! Glad to be able to put Somalia at the forefront of the wargaming scene, there is so much to say and show.

[GMT Games @gmtgames]

Check out our December 16 Update from GMT: New P500s, Art Samples, Digital News, Production Update, and More! - https://t.co/GayCLZhzYf

[Markus Virgil Hoehne @HoehneVirgil]

"Somalia - Approximate Territorial Control, 31 March 2026"
EUAA COI May 2026: Somalia: Security Situation p. 20. Depicting the political complexities beyond political narratives.

[Critical Threats @criticalthreats]

NEW | Somali pirates have conducted the most hijackings in Somali waters in a 10-day period since the end of the peak of the Somali piracy crisis in 2012.

Sustained piracy off the Somali coast would degrade security in another vital global shipping lane amid the fallout from the Iran war and create opportunities for al Shabaab to benefit financially and further its ties with the Houthis. 🧵⬇️

[OSINTtechnical @Osinttechnical]

Somali pirates hijacked an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean earlier this week.

At least 11 pirates overran the Honour 25 late on Wednesday and took it to an anchorage just off the Somali coast at Xaafuun.

[Yann de Villeneuve @AFadingStar1]

@larroumecj Initiative heureuse que cette liste mais c'est dommage de se vautrer dès le premier point cependant vu que l'on dépend toujours de l'oncle sam pour les futures catapultes du PA ainsi que la formation des pilotes de l'aéronavale à Pensacola.

[Gandalv @Microinteracti1]

No serious nation in the history of warfare has spent fourteen months insulting its allies, siding with their common enemy, and then knocked on their door expecting them to rescue a catastrophe of its own making.

You abused the UK. Threatened Canada. Tried to grab Greenland. Called the EU an adversary. Praised Putin. Hosted Kremlin officials in the Capitol. Abandoned Ukraine. And did all of it loudly, proudly, and on camera.

And now you are surprised that nobody is returning your calls.
You want European boots on the ground? Start by explaining why America is more aligned with Moscow than with Brussels.
Take your time. We will wait.

Gandalv / @Microinteracti1

[Olivier Schmitt @Olivier1Schmitt]

The MAGA frustration with France on this platform is now reaching 2003 levels of vitriol. Which is of course the sign that France’s position is correct.

[John Bistline @JEBistline]

This is my favorite climate change chart. Japanese monks, aristocrats, and emperors kept meticulous records of cherry blossom festivals for 1,200 years and accidentally built the world's longest climate dataset.

[Al Jazeera English @AJEnglish]

BREAKING: Israel becomes the first nation in the world to formally recognise Somaliland https://t.co/nd7pddP5Hx

[Yann de Villeneuve @AFadingStar1]

@compassgamesllc "Chopper Pilot Vietnam" comic book has to be the crappiest commercial use of AI I've seen this year. https://t.co/a8dekpcWmk

[Rashid Abdi @RAbdiAnalyst]

Somalia on Thursday threatened to designate African diplomat Sivuyile Bam, the Deputy Special Rep for the AU Commission Chairman (SRCC) in Somalia, persona non grata, for speech at the UNSC in New York, highlighting Al-Shabaab's resurgence.

Bam is South African and served as Head of the Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) of the African Union Commission (AUC) from 2008 to 2021.

A backgrounder:

[Harun Maruf @HarunMaruf]

Here is my take on Al-Shabaab attacks

This is based on conversations with multiple security and local officials; and observers:

For weeks, the Somali military supported by local fighters have been holding off two Al-Shabab offensives - launched from southwest and north - from linking up in Middle Shabelle and Hiran regions.

The militants launched the offensives in an attempt to open a supply route either in Middle Shabelle or the neighbouring Hiran region. The attack in Hiran took place in Beera Yabaal twice in January and in February where local fighters with government forces fended off the militants with high casualties.

The militants failed to open that route. More than a hundred people died in the two clashes, most of them militants.

After the failure in Hiran region, the militants crossing from a makeshift bridge built near the village of Oobaale, turned east, passed north of Mahaday district and sent lots of fighters into Middle Shabelle region. Another al-Shabab colum passed through Yaaqle as Al-Shabaab entertained the AU and Somali forces in Bal’ad town with an attack, thought to have been a decoy on Feb 26.

The second Al-Shabaab offensive from central Somalia was by fighters who have been besieged in Mudug and Galguduud regions for nearly three years. These militants reached the outskirts of the main town of Adan Yabaal which is now besieged.

Militants have forced government forces to pull back from several villages including Al-Kawthar, Daru Nicma, Ceel Cali Axmed, Boos Hareeri, Ceel Baraf, Biyo Cadde and Mirtaqwo. The militants fired mortars on Adan Yabaal but government troops are holding on.

On March 18, Al-Shabaab detonated a huge bomb on the president’s convoy in an attempt on his life. The following day, Al-Shabaab offensives from southwest and north (from central regions) managed to link up for the first time in the vicinity of Guulane village. Al-Shabaab is now in the process of moving fighters into Galmudud to relieve those besieged for 21/2 years who will head south and southwest. The Al-Shabaab attack on Masaajid Cali Gaduud on March 26 poses another risk for the government forces. It could put pressure on government soldiers in Masagaway and Ceel Dheer who will now have to fight to secure the coastal supply route from Mogadishu-Cadale-Nur Dugle to Galmudug.

With large mobilisations taking place in Middle Shabelle and Hiran region spearheaded by @HassanSMohamud, the government wants to turn the tide. There have been increased airstrikes against al-Shabaab. Ethiopian fighter jets, drones by Turkey, and US and helicopters have been active.

To occupy the government from committing more troops into Middle Shabelle, Al-Shabaab opened another front in Lower Shabelle, launching a major attack on Awdhegle town on March 15. This is widely believed to have been an offset attack but it gave Al-Shabaab another strategic advantage - it now controls one of the bridges that are vital to keeping Mogadishu safe from VBIEDs, which is a big security concern.

Al-Shabaab fighters were sighted in the Mogadishu suburb of Elasha Biyaha on the day of the attack in Awdhegle, primarily to ambush reinforcements. More sightings followed the next days, which were interpreted by some commentators as “Al-Shabaab advancing towards Mogadishu.” But it’s important to highlight that Al-Shabaab sightings, ambushes, IEDs and propping attacks in Elasha Biyaha area have been continuing for many years. The militants have been intruding these area from Basra (north of Mogadishu) and Gendershe area (southwest of Mogadishu) for years. To portray this as a fresh “advance” towards Mogadishu is premature. Will Al-Shabaab have more chances of smuggling VBIEDs into Mogadishu? Highly likely. Will Al-Shabaab contemplate bringing fighters into Mogadishu for a conventional war? Highly unlikely.

[Cirka News @CirkaNews]

🚨BREAKING: Never-before-seen footage shows Al-Shabaab boldly setting up a checkpoint just kilometers from Mogadishu on the road to Balcad, well within striking distance of the capital.

This comes only 24 hours after senior Shabaab figure Ali Dheere delivered a fiery open-air speech, flaunting the group’s presence.

The video, posted by the militants themselves, paints a chilling picture of confidence and control despite Somali government-backed media claiming major air and ground offensives are “crippling” the group.

So who’s lying?
Is the government winning or spinning?

[Harun Maruf @HarunMaruf]

Report: Egypt will contribute military forces to the new African Union Mission (AUSOM). In addition, Egypt will send forces under bilateral defense cooperation agreements with Somalia.

If confirmed, this is essentially similar to the current arrangement that Ethiopian forces have in Somalia where some ENDF operate as part of AU forces while others operate under bilateral agreement.

[GAROWE ONLINE @GaroweOnline]

UPDATE 🚨 - A Chinese fishing vessel hijacked off the coast of #Somalia was released on Monday after a $2 million ransom was paid, per sources, signaling a renewed threat of piracy in the waters of the Horn of Africa.

The ship, managed by Liaoning Daping Fishery Group and chartered by a Taiwanese firm, was hijacked on Nov. 27 near Haafun town under Puntland state with 18 crew members on board. The vessel, which supplies fish to European markets including Spain and Italy, was freed following the bulk payment.

[Yann de Villeneuve @AFadingStar1]

@carpenter_brut Plutôt refait par les potentielles dates au Japon, 10 ans qu'on attend de la synthwave ici! 😭

[Frédéric Serval @fredserval]

I am somewhat proud and worried to announce tomorrow's Wargame Ethics panel at 3pm EST, looking into the legacy of the Clean Wehrmacht in Wargames. I will have the pleasure to discuss with @Volko26, @LetsPlayHistory and @akochowi
https://t.co/ktEvr362Em

[GAROWE ONLINE @GaroweOnline]

The Defense Minister, Army Chief, and other Somali government officials welcomed a shipment of weapons from Egypt at Mogadishu's port, Yesterday. This move indicates a significant military cooperation between #Somalia and #Egypt, involving the delivery of heavy weaponry, armored vehicles, and anti-tank missiles.

[Yann de Villeneuve @AFadingStar1]

@HBuchanan2 While it's an entertaining propaganda piece, it also sadly crystallized some of the worst clichés about Somalia in the world imaginary for decades now. Clichés that are hard to get rid off.

[Yann de Villeneuve @AFadingStar1]

@HBuchanan2 Is it a good movie? Yes definitely.
Is it a good historical piece? Not in the slightest. Unfortunately, the movie overlooks the fact that the raid basically wiped out the elder ring from the clan Aidid belonged to. A ring that was actually discussing ways to de-escalate the war.

[Harun Maruf @HarunMaruf]

Somalia’s Climate Crisis and the Fight against Al-Shabaab. By ⁦@nazaninemoshiri⁩ https://t.co/Svgjj4gPrn