Top US military commander concludes trip to East Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The US Africa Command boss General Stephen Townsend has concluded his trip to East Africa, Horn of Africa, and the Western side of the continent, in which the fight against Al-Shabaab prominently featured.

In his company, Townsend was accompanied by Assistant to the President for Homeland Security Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict Chris Maier visited U.S. personnel and operational facilities in Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, and Niger, Oct. 25-29.

During their trip, the top security officers from the US discussed matters of counterterrorism, with the role of Washington also being evaluated. The US has been a major security partner of the continent and has close to 7000 soldiers across Africa.

The delegation recognized service members at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti; Mogadishu, Somalia; and Manda Bay, Kenya, who are responsible for supporting local and regional partners executing the counterterrorism campaign against al-Shabaab.

Al-Shabaab militants control large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia and have even sprung outside the Horn of Africa nation. Particularly, Somalia has struggled to contain the militants, who are keen to topple the fragile UN-backed Somalia administration.

The trip comes at the time the US is evaluating whether to dispatch soldiers to Somalia, just months after unprecedented withdrawal. Initially, there were close to 700 US troops in the country, even as the US continues to support Danab Special Forces.

In Niger, Townsend led the delegation to air bases in Agadez and Niamey to meet with American forces who work with Nigerien partners to monitor and disrupt security threats, support hostage recovery efforts, and project power in West Africa, the US Africa Command noted.

While in Niamey, the delegation met with Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum and discussed ways to further counter terrorist groups in the Sahel. The party also met with U.S. Embassy officials and with French Ambassador to Niger Alexandre Garcia and Barkhane Force Commander Maj. Gen. Laurent Michon to improve U.S.-French counterterrorism cooperation in the region.

“This trip was a great opportunity to show how our troops across the continent protect the homeland and support our partners to strengthen stability in Africa,” said Townsend. “Dr. Sherwood-Randall and I also had a productive meeting with Nigerien President Bazoum, where we discussed our shared efforts to increase security in the Sahel.”

GAROWE ONLINE