Somalia Gains U.S. Support as Anti-Terror Push Intensifies
GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged renewed support to Somalia in its fight against terrorism, as Somali security forces intensify military operations against Al-Shabaab and Islamic State-linked groups across the country.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), President Trump said the United States stands firmly with the Somali people in resisting terrorist groups and foreign actors such as Yemen’s Houthi movement, which Washington and Mogadishu fear may be seeking influence in the Horn of Africa.
“We will support the Somali People, who should not allow the Houthis to embed (which they are trying to do!), to end terrorism, and bring prosperity to their Country,” Trump wrote.
The Somali government welcomed the remarks, with National Security Adviser Hussein Sheikh-Ali responding on Monday: “We appreciate President Trump’s strong stance against the nexus of terrorism and foreign destabilisers. Somalia remains a committed partner in the global fight against extremism.”
Trump’s comments come amid a surge in military activity in Somalia. The Somali National Army (SNA), working with regional forces, local forces, and Puntland State troops, has launched aggressive offensives in recent months.
Strategic areas such as Deeynuunay in the Bay region have been retaken from Al-Shabaab, and ongoing operations continue in the central and northern regions.
The U.S., a long-standing security partner to Somalia, has provided drone surveillance, training, and advisory support in the counterterrorism campaign.
Under Trump’s leadership, military cooperation appears poised to deepen, particularly in light of renewed concern over foreign militant influence in the region.
“Time for the terrorists to hide, but it won’t do them any good,” Trump added in his post. “Our Warfighters, the Greatest the World has ever seen, will find them, and bring them to swift Justice.”
He credited General Daniel Caine, newly appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with past military successes, claiming ISIS had been “completely obliterated in three weeks” under Caine’s leadership during Trump’s previous term.
Somalia’s strategic location across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen has made it vulnerable to cross-border destabilization. Recent Houthi activity in the Red Sea has heightened fears of regional entanglement, particularly as the Iran-aligned group targets shipping routes in support of Palestinian factions.
With Somalia working to consolidate its federal structure and reclaim territories from insurgents, officials say international partnerships—especially with the U.S.—remain vital to long-term security and governance.
“This is a turning point for Somalia,” said a senior government official. “The fight is not just on the battlefield—it’s about securing our sovereignty and future.”