U.S. Officials Weigh Embassy Closure in Somalia Amid Al-Shabaab Threat: NYT

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Recent battlefield advances by the militant group Al-Shabab have prompted some U.S. State Department officials to propose closing the American embassy in Mogadishu, according to The New York Times.

The recommendation, driven by concerns over embassy security, echoes fears of past crises — including the 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, and the 2021 collapse of the Afghan government following U.S. troop withdrawal.

However, other officials within the Trump administration’s National Security Council have warned that shuttering the embassy could undermine confidence in Somalia’s federal government and risk political instability. These officials are urging continued engagement and support for Somalia’s fragile institutions.

The U.S. embassy in Mogadishu remains fully operational, with security conditions under regular review. The embassy was reopened in October 2019 under President Trump after being closed for nearly 28 years, marking a significant step in U.S.-Somalia relations.

In addition to the embassy closure, State Department officials have also floated the idea of withdrawing the 500 to 600 American troops stationed in Somalia and halting counterterrorism operations against Al-Shabab and ISIS.

It remains unclear whether former President Trump, who reduced troop levels in late 2020 before leaving office, would pursue these proposals if reelected. President Biden later redeployed a limited number of U.S. forces to Somalia in 2021.

GAROWE ONLINE