Rising Al-Shabaab Attacks Prompts Pentagon’s Decision to Redeploy US Special Forces to Somalia

The rising Al-Shabaab attacks in Somalia has prompted Pentagon to make a decision to redeploy the US Special Forces back to the war-torn country.

In the recent weeks, Al-Shabaab has escalated coordinated attacks on military positions especially in central and southern Somalia, with a deadly operation being recorded on March 3^rd, for El Baraf in Middle Shabelle region where scores of ATMIS-Burundian troops were killed and base overrun by the Al-Qaeda aligned militants.

Last year, before leaving office, the former President Donald Trump signed an order authorizing the repositioning of the US troops and now the current US President Joe Biden has been convinced to reverse that decision, thus decision to reinstate troops to Somalia.

Latest reports indicate that on Monday 16^th, President Joe Biden authorized the deployment of the fewer than 500 troops to the East African country battling with rising extremist insurgency. The troops will establish a small presence in Somalia in an attempt to better target Al-Shabaab and its leaders and that of the group’s senior commanders/leaders.

Referencing Pentagon sources on condition of anonymity, the decision to redeploy the Special Forces was occasioned by the growing Al-Shabaab threat which could further destabilize the country. Throughout the elections period, the Al-Qaeda associate militant group has managed to wage deadly attacks, mainly targeting security forces, senior government officials and innocent civilians.

The newly elected President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud thanked and appreciates Biden for authorizing the deployment of American troops to Somalia underscoring that the US has always been a reliable ally in the fight against terrorism and quest for the stability of Somalia.