Somalia: Security Experts Blindsided by Trump Assertion of US troops Pullout

Mogadishu (HAN) October 27, 2020. Regional Security and Stability Initiatives. Senior National and Regional Security officials blindsided by President Donald Trump’s assertion and announcement of US troop withdrawal from Somalia. The Trump administration has fallen prey to the pitfalls of ending Al-Shabaab killings in Somalia and kenya. Last week, Somali National Army (SNA) spokesman Major Mohammed Ali says  more than 10 of its soldiers killed in al-Shabaab hit and run attack in Afgoye district while the Al-Qaeda-linked armed group Al-Shabaab says it killed 24 Danab soldiers trained by US forces in Somalia. Trump’s troops withdrawal comments, laid out in a confusing progression of comments and alarmed AMISOM troops station in Somalia.

The Former Somali Air-Force Camp Baledogle is a training base for Somali Army commandos -DANAB. The trainers were reported to be U.S. contractors working for Bancroft Global Development- U.S. military footprint in Somalia.

In the American Somalia experience, exit strategies begin as conditions-based plans but quickly become irresistible departure schedules, such as 1993 “Operation restore Hope”. To hasten withdrawal from Bali-Doogle Air base or Halane Danab para-military station, the United States has signed an unenforceable agreement with Kenyan government  and trying to leave Somali allies holding the bag. As Nairobi security insiders discussion how to accelerate withdrawal, the Al-Shabaab in Kenya and Southern Somali villages has upped the ante on the battlefield and offered no concessions to work with Federal Government of Somalia (FGS).

In 2017, the new Trump administration Somalia strategy featured a troop increase in Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti and a harder line toward Eritrea and Al-Shabaab movements. Approximately 525 U.S. troops, advisors and  backed by more than 30,000 from AMISOM troops, provided advice, training and air support, stiffening the spine of 18,000 Somali National Army (SNA) and civilian advisors. These coalition  forces led by AMISOM with US air support (Drones) power have been hard-pressed to hold off Al-Shabaab insurgents, backed by Middle east groups, drug money, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Kenya elements. Since 2006, more than 50,000 Ethiopian, Kenyan, Uganda, Burundi, Somali soldiers and police personnel have perished in the fight against Al-Shabaab bases in Southern and Central Somalia.

Copyright @Geeska Afrika Online


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