U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command, completed a multi-day engagement in Somalia and a visit to the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), operating off the coast of Somalia, Jan. 16-18, 2021.  (credit: africom.mil)

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command, wrapped up a five-day visit to East Africa Tuesday, which included stops in Djibouti, Somalia and Kenya as well as to the USS Makin Island (LHD 8), operating off the coast of Somalia.  Gen.  Townsend was accompanied by the Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher.  The trip, which was Townsend’s first visit to the African continent in 2021, demonstrated U.S. Africa Command’s commitment to East African partners and provided the commander with the opportunity to visit Joint Task Force – Quartz, the organization tasked with overseeing the repositioning of U.S. forces while meeting with commanders, forces, and partners in the region.

“Our strategy in East Africa relies on partnerships,”  Gen. Townsend said. “East African and international partners are working toward a secure environment in Africa that enables political and economic development. U.S. Africa Command continues to do its part.”

U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. AFRICOM, speaks to Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island during tour of the  vessel operating off the coast of Somalia, Jan. 16-18. (africom.mil)

While in Somalia, Townsend met with U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Don Yamamoto and key military leaders from the Somali Armed Forces, including Minister of Defense, Hassan Hussein Haji, and Somali Chief of Defense Forces Brigadier Gen. Odawa Yusuf Raage, to discuss continued security cooperation between the U.S. and Somali partners as well as joint efforts to counter the al Qaeda aligned terrorist group al-Shabaab.  The visit comes roughly a month after U.S. Africa Command stood up Joint Task Force-Quartz, the organization responsible for the repositioning of U.S. forces in East Africa.

U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. AFRICOM speaks to  a group of service members  during an awards ceremony at an airfield in East Africa Jan. 17, 2021

Africa faces threats from terrorist groups such as the Al-Qaeda affiliated al-Shabaab. It has also emerged as a front for global power competition where both China and Russia are using aggressive diplomatic, economic and military means to expand their access and influence, according to  AFRICOM.     While in Djibouti and Kenya, Townsend and Thresher recognized U.S. forces in the region and the effect their actions have on mission success in East Africa, underscoring that U.S. forces in East Africa remain poised to respond to threats, deter aggression and support partners while advancing U.S. and regional security.