Pentagon seeks Trump’s endorsement for enhanced footprint in Somalia
US military could soon increase its footprint in Somalia should the White House approve proposals for enhanced engagement by defense secretary Jim Mattis.
Associated Press reports that defense department is seeking President Donald Trump’s endorsement to ramp up its offensive against the Somalia based militant group Al-Shabaab including enhanced troops involvement and numbers.
Senior defense officials say the recommendation which have been sent to the white House would allow US special forces increased assistance to the Somali National Army and greater flexibility among US forces in launching airstrikes against Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia.
The proposals follows questions raised by the Trump transition team late last year on why the US had spent many years fighting Al-Shabaab without results.
The United States is “trying to take a look at Somalia from a fresh perspective in the way ahead,” said Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, the head of U.S. Africa Command in an interview with The Associated Press describing the need to weaken the decade-old al-Shabab insurgency so that the African nation’s military forces can defeat it,”
Officials in the defense department said the recommendations would empower US forces to launch pre-emptive strikes against Al-Shabaab as opposed to interventions after friendly forces are attacked.
US Special Forces have been operating alongside US trained Somali elite squads in neutralizing key senior Al-Shabaab elements. Pentagon announced last year it killed 150 Al-Shabaab militants in drone strikes in central Somalia.
The defense department, AP says are also keen on building a strong and competent Somali army and the election of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo could bolster these aims owing to his fervent call for a strong Somali army.
The US withdrew its forces from Somalia in 1993 following the Black Hawk Down debacle which resulted in the death of 18 US forces. It has however maintained units in the country with support from its Camp Lemonnier military base in neighbouring Djibouti.