Spc. Kevin Martin provides security for a 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules during unloading operations at an unidentified location in Somalia on June 28, 2020. (Tech. Sgt. Christopher Ruano/Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa via AP)
Military Times: US troops now ‘commuting to work’ to help Somalia fight al-Shabab
When President Donald Trump ordered roughly 700 U.S. troops to withdraw from Somalia late last year, it decreased the American footprint there, but not the mission to help that country’s military fight back against al-Shabab, al-Qaida’s largest affiliate.
Three months after the completed drawdown, senior U.S. Africa Command leaders say that they are essentially doing the same work, but “commuting” from Europe and other East African countries to get it done.
“There’s no denying that the repositioning of forces out of Somalia has introduced new layers of complexity and risk,” Army. Gen. Stephen Townsend, AFRICOM’s boss, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. “... our understanding of what’s happening in Somalia is less now than it was when we were there on the ground, physically located with our partners.
So we’re working to make this new mode of operation work.” Al-Shabab continues to carry out attacks around Somalia, including in capital city Mogadishu.
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WNU Editor: The intent of former President Trump was to end the US military mission in Somalia and its mission. But elections have consequences, and now we are back to square one.
My gut tells me that in the coming months the White House will be green-lighting the return of US troops back into their bases in Somalia to avoid this "commuting" hassle.
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