NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 5- The United States is set to withdraw nearly all its troops in Somalia by January 15 next year, the Pentagon has announced.
The troops will leave the country, which has suffered decades of war and offers operation grounds to the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab militants, at a critical electioneering period.
The directive by U.S. President Donald Trump will see about 700 troops leave Somalia.
The forces have been assisting the Somali National Forces alongside other African troops under Amisom to battle Al-Shabaab terrorists and mostly through guided air strikes.
Following the 1993 incident when 18 special forces soldiers were killed in a dawn attack, the U.S. has reduced physical contacts while fighting in Somalia and has instead resulted to air strikes and facilitation to Somali forces.
Over the years, the air strikes have killed hundreds of militants but also killed innocent civilians according to human rights reports.
Other African States have also announced plans to reduce their presence in Somalia despite the scourge of terrorism remaining real.
Kenya Defence Forces has remained a critical player in ensuring stability in the fragile neighbouring country, whose security woes have overflowed to Kenya, claiming thousand of lives from both civilians and security forces.
Lately, the militants have been targeting security forces at the border counties using Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).
It remains to be seen what an exit by US troops from Somalia means to Kenya and the region.
And while Mogadishu, the capital of Somali has been reclaimed from the terrorists, the threat of being overrun in case of sudden withdrawal of African forces remains real.
Late last month U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of U.S. Africa Command, was joined by acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller on a multi-day trip Somalia.
They also visited Djibouti.
“Global competitors understand Africa’s importance to their strategic interests,” said Townsend.
“What we do in East Africa matters to U.S. national security and it is important our forces understand the positive impact they are having.”
Townsend noted that the U.S.troops were still playing a critical role ensuring stability within Somalia.
“We enjoy close cooperation with our East African partners. Partnership and a range of U.S. assistance remains critically important to the stability, security, and prosperity of this region,” said Townsend.
“We must continue to work together and deliver whole-of-government, international, and African solutions to address regional issues.”
In January, Al-Shabaab terrorists attacked Manda Bay Airfield, a jointly run US and Kenya forces military camp, killing three Americans.
A month later in February, the U.S. Forces said they had killed the leader behind the attack.
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