America donates weapons to Somalia for Al-Shabaab war

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A cache of weapons and ammunition arrived in Somalia on Tuesday, just hours after the US expressed optimism that Somalia is on the right track in the fight against Al-Shabaab, noting that Washington will continue to support efforts to eliminate the militants.

State Department had revealed that it is using up to $80 million annually to train, equi , fee,d and fuel the Danab Special Forces, a contingent of the Somali National Army [SNA] which is known for operations against Al-Shabaab. The elite forces,the  US said, are also entitled to $300 monthly allowance.

The US embassy in Mogadishu confirmed the delivery of weapons to the country while noting that the donation was brought in by two US Air Force C-17s which landed at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu. The two planes were received by top Somali an , US government officials.

"The United States supports Somalia in the fight to liberate its people fromAl-Shabaab’ss terrorist violence. SNA Force Danab received 61 tons of weapons and ammunition today off two U.S. Air Force C-17s, " the embassy said in a brief statementonfthe  Twitter handle.

At the airport to receive the weapons am ammunition were the Chief of Defense Forces Odowaa Yusuf Rageh and outspoken Defense Minister Abdikadir Mohamed Nur, a close ally of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The two hailed the US for generosity while thanking them for "true" security partnership.

"Earlier today I joined Charge d’Affaires Trenkle and Gen Odowaa to review the weapons and ammunition received from United States Government . This support demonstrates the commitment of USG in supporting the Somali Government’s intent of eradicating Al-Shabaab," Nur said in a tweet.

"The weapons and ammunition received today from our US partners will be used in the ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab ‘Khawarij’ the continued support from partners remains crucial to win this fight against Al-Shabaab, " he added while announcing that the group has lost significant territories in the last seven months.

The US Africa Command had been withdrawn from Somalia in 2021 but the troops were reinstated last year upon request by the US Senate, Pentagon and local politicians who reported Al-Shabaab resurgence. There are close to 500 US Africa Command soldiers in Somalia today.

Elsewhere, the Somali government reported that ten militants were killed in a new operation by Somali intelligence and international partners in Buurweyn, 23km west of Jalalaqsi, Hiran region on Tuesday at around4 pmm. The government named individuals targeted and reportedly killed; says casualties still being assessed.

The Al-Shabaab militants have been fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia but resistance and resilience by the security forces has proved it cumbersome for the group. According toa  UN report, there are close to 7,000 active Al-Shabaab fighters who make up to $130 million annually through extortion.

GAROWE ONLINE