Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosts Somali President Hassan Sheikh for a meeting at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 15, 2022. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jack Sanders)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
WASHINGTON DC – Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Thursday at the Pentagon in Washington DC. The visit comes after President Biden in May reauthorized deployment of U.S. forces to Somalia. US President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of nearly all US troops from the Horn of Africa nation during his final days in office. The US had about 700 troops in Somalia helping local forces battle al-Shabab and Islamic State militants. Senior Pentagon officials have warned that the pullout of U.S. troops from Somalia has made it more difficult to counter terror groups that could threaten American interests. In March, ranking Republican member of the Senate Armed Armed Services Committee Sen. Jim Inhofe called on the Pentagon to consider re-deploying U.S. troops to Somalia to counter the sharp rise in extremist activity by al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab terrorist group. Sheikh Mohamud, the newly elected Somalia President, welcomed the decision by the US to redeploy troops to the Horn of Africa country.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosts Somali President Hassan Sheikh for a meeting at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 15, 2022. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jack Sanders)
U.S. AFRICOM Airstrike Kills 13 Al-Shabaab Terrorists In SOMALIA
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosts Somali President Hassan Sheikh for a meeting at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 15, 2022. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jack Sanders)
U.S. Africa Command confirmed last month it conducted an airstrike that killed 13 al-Shabaab fighters in a remote location near Teedaan, Somalia August 14. The command’s initial assessment was that no civilians were injured or killed. U.S. forces are authorized to conduct strikes in defense of designated partner forces under the 2001 Authorization of Use for Military Force. AFRICOM said the airstrike was conducted in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia against the militants that were actively attacking Somali National Army forces.
New AFRICOM Chief Meets President Sheikh Mohamud in Somalia
U.S. AFRICOM Commander meets with Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud with Amb. Larry André, U.S. Embassy in Somalia on Aug. 29, 2022 (Credit: africom.mil)
The new commander of U.S. Africa Command Gen. Michael Langley hit the ground running last week on his first visit to Africa since taking over as boss of AFRICOM. On August 9, 2022, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Langley became AFRICOM’s sixth commander since the command was established in 2008. Gen. Langley visited Djibouti, Somalia, and Manda Bay, Kenya, August 28-31. While in Somalia, Langley met leaders and troops at operational sites across the country to witness ongoing training efforts, and assess security and force protection measures. The AFRICOM chief also met with President Sheikh Mohamud and Minister of Defense Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, to discuss shared priorities and operations, such as the command’s shared fight against Al-Shabaab.
United States Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley visited Djibouti, Somalia, and Manda Bay, Kenya, August 28-31, 2022 on his first trip to Africa since taking command of U.S. Africa Command on August 9, 2022. (Credit: africom.mil)
“The United States supports the Somali government and its people. We are committed to working together to advance our mutual prosperity for our countries. I appreciate Somalia’s efforts in the fight against Al-Shabaab and look forward to continued partnership between our two militaries”
-Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. AFRICOM
