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The Pentagon said Friday that President Donald Trump had ordered the withdrawal of most of the US military from Somalia by early 2021.
“As a result of this decision, some forces could be reassigned outside East Africa. However, the remaining forces will be relocated from Somalia to neighboring countries in order to allow cross-border operations of both US and partner forces to maintain pressure against violent extremist organizations operating in Somalia, “the Pentagon said in a statement.
The statement downplayed this move as a change in the posture of US forces rather than a change in politics. “The United States will retain the ability to conduct targeted counter-terrorism operations in Somalia, and will gather early warnings and indicators of threats to the homeland,” he added.
The United States reportedly has around 700 soldiers stationed in Somalia to assist local forces against al-Shabaab, a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda.
US forces collaborate with African Union troops (AMISOM) and Somali security forces in combined counter-terrorism operations. / Reuters
US forces collaborate with African Union troops (AMISOM) and Somali security forces in combined counter-terrorism operations. / Reuters
Trump’s intention to withdraw troops from Somalia has been surfacing in media reports for weeks. Somali President Mohamed Farmajo signaled his concern about this move in mid-October.
“US military support for Somalia has enabled us to effectively fight al-Shabab and protect the Horn of Africa. A victory through this journey and for the Somali-US partnership can only be achieved through an ongoing partnership for security and support for capacity building, “he said. he said on Twitter.
US media said the newly appointed interim defense secretary, Christopher Miller, supported this move, effectively reversing the course set by former Pentagon chief Mark Esper, who favored the maintenance of the US military presence. in the East African country.
The latest decision indicates that Trump is determined to reduce US participation in distant wars before the end of his presidency. Last month, the Pentagon announced that US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq would be reduced to 2,500 levels respectively by mid-January 2021.
Currently, there are approximately 4,500 US troops in Afghanistan and 3,000 troops in Iraq to support Iraqi forces in battles against the remnants of the Islamic State, mainly for training and counseling purposes.
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