Pentagon Chief: Somalia made impressive progress in Al-Shabaab war

NAIROBI, Kenya - Somalia has made impressive progress in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin III has noted, even as the country embarks on the second and perhaps most vital operation against the Al-Qaida linked group, which has been a major source of instability.

For the last three decades, Somalia has struggled with instability, with the emergence of violent extremism worsening the situation in the new millennium. Since 2007, the Al-Shabaab militants have been fighting to take over from the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia.

During his trip to Djibouti and Kenya, Austin said he is confident that the country has made milestones in the fight against the group while appreciating various teams on the ground. The Somali National Army, the US Africa Command and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] have been on the frontline fighting the group.

“I think they [Somali forces] made more progress in the last year than was made in the previous five years,” Austin told reporters in Djibouti, acknowledging that the gains would eventually liberate the entire country from the chains of Al-Shabaab terrorists.

“But we know that progress is not always a straight line, and we can see significant improvement one day and challenges the next. Our approach across the continent has always been a combination of defence capabilities, development and diplomacy, and I think that is the right combination to ensure that you make a lasting impact,” he said.

However, he also cautioned that the terror group still can “export terror from ungoverned spaces.” The Defence chief insisted that the US Africa Command will continue to support the Somali National Army in training and equipping them besides giving aerial surveillance services when needed.

More often than not, the US Africa Command has been unleashing airstrikes in Al-Shabaab bedrocks while assisting combat troops. Despite the progress, Somalia believes that the ongoing withdrawal of ATMIS troops from the country could jeopardize gains made so far.

ATMIS started withdrawing soldiers in June 2023, a process which saw 2,000 soldiers leave. By the end of this month, it is anticipated that over 3,000 soldiers will leave the country, a move which Somalia wants to be technically paused for the next three months.

GAROWE ONLINE