U.S. military pledges to train and equip Somalia forces fighting Al-Shabaab

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The U.S. military has pledged to train and equip Somali National Army [SNA], in line with traditions set by the country, a move geared towards strengthening the local forces in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants, who have destabilized Somalia for decades.

While announcing an airstrike that left at least two Al-Shabaab militants in Bulaburde dead, the US Africa Command maintained that the SNA soldiers should be properly empowered to help in degrading the Al-Shabaab extortionists, who control most parts of Somalia.

"Somalia remains key to the security environment in East Africa. U.S. Africa Command’s forces will continue training, advising, and equipping partner forces to give them the tools that they need to degrade al-Shabaab," the command noted.

Usually, the US Africa Command provides aerial surveillance in operations targeting Al-Shabaab especially when the local army and those from African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] come under attack from the militants, who are keen to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government.

According to the Command, Al-Shabaab militants are capable of attacking US forces thus threatening the country's security interests, adding that empowering local forces will significantly degrade the Al-Shabaab militants.

"Al-Shabaab is the largest and most kinetically active al-Qaeda network in the world and has proved both its will and capability to attack U.S. forces and threaten U.S. security interests. U.S. Africa Command, alongside its partners, continues to take action to prevent this malicious terrorist group from planning and conducting attacks on civilians," the command noted.

"U.S. Africa Command will continue to assess the results of the operation and will provide additional information as appropriate. Specific details about the units involved and assets used will not be released in order to ensure operations security."

U.S. Africa Command, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, with partners, counters malign actors and transnational threats, respond to crises and strengthens security forces in order to advance U.S. national interests and promote regional security, stability, and prosperity, it further said.

Somalia has waged both military and ideological war against the Al-Shabaab militants, with the group losing so many fighters in recent weeks. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has also warned business owners against funding Al-Shabaab, whether willingly or through extortion.

GAROWE ONLINE