Late on Friday, President Trump ordered the repositioning of most U.S. personnel and assets out of Somalia by early 2021 despite a terrorist threat in the country.
“At the direction of the president and the acting secretary of defense, U.S. Africa Command is repositioning our forces within East Africa,” U.S. Africa Command Col. Chris Karns told the Washington Examiner after a statement announcing the decision was posted on the Department of Defense website.
“This action is not a withdrawal and end to our efforts but a reposition,” Karns said, while declining to elaborate on where some 750 soldiers now in Somalia would be relocated.
The Trump order was expected, and a surprise Thanksgiving visit by acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller to the region began to build anticipation that an announcement was forthcoming.
Miller’s visit included a stop at America’s only base in Africa, Camp Lemonnier in nearby Djibouti.
Karns hinted that the repositioning of troops would be just outside Somali borders, thereby fulfilling the president’s order but keeping soldiers close enough to continue targeting al Shabab and other terrorist organizations operating in the region.
“The forces repositioning from Somalia are moving to partner countries elsewhere in the region to accomplish their missions,” he said. “The U.S. remains committed to our work in East Africa and Somalia”
In November, U.S. Army Africa commander Maj. Gen. Andrew Rohling explained to the Washington Examiner why soldiers were in Somalia.
“American soldiers on the ground provide capacity and capability unmatched across the world today,” he said. “You can’t do that with just a drone.”
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley hinted Wednesday in a Brookings Institution discussion that a repositioning of forces in Somalia was in the works.
“Somalia is an ongoing debate right this minute,” he said. “Not so much as to what a footprint is. It’s what the footprint will look like.”
Milley underscored that al Shabab remains a threat in the region and is an extension of al Qaeda.
“They do have some reach, and they could, if left unattended, conduct operations against not only U.S. interests in the region, but also against the homeland,” he said. “ So, they require attention.”
