US airstrikes against Al-Shabaab in Somalia increased under Biden administration

NAIROBI, Kenya - The US Africa Command has increased airstrikes against Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia, a year after the team retreated following unprecedented withdrawal in 2021 after a directive by former President Donald Trump who claimed it was part of the cost-saving measure.

Last year, the Middle Eye reports, the airstrikes increased by 30 percent after the US Senate and Pentagon called for the redeployment of the troops to the country months after they were repositioned. The soldiers had been operating in Djibouti and Kenya.

In 2022, the US Africa Command fired 15 times at the Al-Shabaab militants killing close to 107 fighters including senior commanders. The data by Long War Journal noted that the airstrikes were more sophisticated than in 2021 when the soldiers had withdrawn.

President Joe Biden reversed Trump's decision last year following concerns by local politicians and evidence that Al-Shabaab militants were regaining ground. The US Africa Command has been working closely with the Somali National Army in the latest crackdown.

Africom estimates the militant group has 5,000 to 10,000 fighters across the country of 15 million, controlling territory in southern and central Somalia. A number of these fighters have abandoned the course after they started losing ground due to sustained operations.

On Saturday, Somalia’s government claimed for the first time that al-Shabaab called for open negotiations with the government, as it conducts a military offensive against the group it described as “total war”. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has revealed that by the end of January, Galmadug and HirShabelle states will be free from Al-Shabaab.

The number could increase this year following reports of Monday's airstrike in Middle Shabelle which claimed the lives of 61 Al-Shabaab militants. The Ministry of Information confirmed that the local troops with assistance from foreign troops managed to kill the militants as they planned to raid an army camp.

Somalia government denied claims of possible talks with Al-Shabaab, with the group also denying such plans. Al-Shabaab has been fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia since 2007 but the spirited operation has kept them at bay, with analysts saying the group is facing rebellion internally and is on the verge of collapsing.

GAROWE ONLINE