Sweden Deploys Military Units to Somalia to Support SNA in Counterterrorism

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Sweden deployed small units of the Swedish Armed Forces to Somalia, with their main task being to offer support to the Somali National Army (SNA), which has been transforming for the last three decades.

Sources said the units were deployed this summer for counterterrorism operations, a significant move that could assist the country in effectively repulsing the threat from both the al-Shabaab and ISIS militants within the country.

"The mission contributes not only to combating terrorism in the region but also to strengthening both Swedish and global security," officials said without delving into finer details.

The Swedish contingent is focused on supporting Somali and U.S. forces through training, advisory activities, and technical exploitation capabilities – that is, extracting as much information as possible from a site, event, or object, officials added.

"Sweden’s presence in Somalia is based on an invitation from the Somali government, and the support to the Somali Armed Forces is conducted in cooperation with U.S. Africa Command (US AFRICOM)," read the statement.

In response, the US Africa Command, which coordinates counterterrorism operations in Somalia, confirmed the presence of the Swedish forces in the country, noting that they will be instrumental in technical exploitation capabilities.

"This week, Lt. Gen. John Brennan, AFRICOM Deputy Commander, met with Swedish military leadership virtually to discuss Sweden’s commitment to counterterrorism by supporting the Somali National Army through Swedish expertise in forensic and technical exploitation capabilities."

Besides the US Africa Command and Turkey, which are directly involved in the rebuilding process of Somalia, the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) is also part of the mission. Somalia plunged into chaos over three decades ago and is in a state-building process.

GAROWE ONLINE