New head of AFRICOM visits Somalia as pressure on al-Shabab increases

Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, the new commander of U.S. Africa Command, visited Somalia on Wednesday and pledged to continue pressuring violent extremists such as al-Shabab.

Townsend is now on his first trip to the African continent since he took charge of AFRICOMJuly 26. He met with Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre in the capital city of Mogadishu, as well as U.S. Ambassador Donald Yamamoto and senior Somali military leadership, AFRICOM said in a release.

AFRICOM said Townsend’s trip allowed him to assess the situation in Somalia, and reinforce AFRICOM’s commitments to the region’s security.

“I am committed to working together and advancing our partnership with Somalia,” Townsend said in the release. “Along with Somalia and other international partners, we will apply continued pressure on violent extremist organizations. This pressure creates conditions and opportunity for further political and economic development.”

Townsend said that Somali forces must keep pushing al-Shabab out of the remaining areas they hold to free Somali people living there, and that degrading the terrorist group’s threat supports the interests of both Somalia and the United States.

“We’re in the business of protecting our country from these threats,” Townsend said. “Degrading the capability of terrorists who operate here makes the entire region safer and prevents its export to other places. This is important work for our country, the Somalis and our allies.”

In a sign of how American involvement in Somalia is increasing, AFRICOM carried out as many airstrikes in the nation in the first seven months of 2019 as it did for the entirety of 2018. According to statistics from AFRICOM last month, the U.S. military carried out its 47th airstrike in Somalia on July 27 to target suspected Islamic State militants in the Golis Mountain region, which is a reputed terrorist hotbed.

AFRICOM said Wednesday that the U.S. is coordinating its diplomacy and development efforts with military activity. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale also met with Khayre in Mogadishu earlier this week, and pledged to continue U.S. support for Somalia’s political reforms, economic development and stabilization.

“They agreed on the value of security operations to liberate areas from al-Shabab and preparing Somali forces to take over from the African Union Mission to Somalia,” State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in the release.

The Prime Minister added the partnership with the U.S. is key to reform and sustaining progress, according to the AFRICOM website.

“Through our strategic partnership and support with the U.S. government, Somalia has made tangible progress in security, reconciliation, and debt relief,” said Khaire, adding the two nations will continue to partner meaningfully in pursuit of their bilateral interests.

As part of its support, AFRICOM is training a Somali military force called the Danab, a specially-trained unit of the Somali Security Forces that focuses on fighting al-Shabab and ISIS-Somalia. Al Shabab is believed to have been responsible for an October 2017 truck bombing in Mogadishu that killed 500 people and a January attack on a hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, that killed more than 20 people. AFRICOM said that the al Qaida-connected al-Shabab “remains the largest and deadliest terror organization in East Africa” and the region’s “principle security challenge.”

Townsend met with U.S. units training the Danab, and praised the job they are doing.

“The United States of America offers the best security partnership and training in the world,” Townsend said. “We invest in our partners, dedicating the time, energy and commitment to make sure they are ready for any challenge.”

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/...-somalia-as-pressure-on-al-shabaab-increases/

 
We welcome the new head of AFRICOM Gen. Townsend and the U.S. in their continued support of our government. It's also a great deal of respect shown, that the new head of AFRICOM chose Somalia as his first destination to visit as he took over the command. This also comes in the same week of the U.S. Undersecretary's visit it signifies the strategic and diplomatic interest that our US partners have shown. We will sustain and strengthen our collaboration on all fronts as we bring our nation back from the abyss it fell into on Jan 26, 1991.
 
Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, the new commander of U.S. Africa Command, visited Somalia on Wednesday and pledged to continue pressuring violent extremists such as al-Shabab.

Townsend is now on his first trip to the African continent since he took charge of AFRICOMJuly 26. He met with Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre in the capital city of Mogadishu, as well as U.S. Ambassador Donald Yamamoto and senior Somali military leadership, AFRICOM said in a release.

AFRICOM said Townsend’s trip allowed him to assess the situation in Somalia, and reinforce AFRICOM’s commitments to the region’s security.

“I am committed to working together and advancing our partnership with Somalia,” Townsend said in the release. “Along with Somalia and other international partners, we will apply continued pressure on violent extremist organizations. This pressure creates conditions and opportunity for further political and economic development.”

Townsend said that Somali forces must keep pushing al-Shabab out of the remaining areas they hold to free Somali people living there, and that degrading the terrorist group’s threat supports the interests of both Somalia and the United States.

“We’re in the business of protecting our country from these threats,” Townsend said. “Degrading the capability of terrorists who operate here makes the entire region safer and prevents its export to other places. This is important work for our country, the Somalis and our allies.”

In a sign of how American involvement in Somalia is increasing, AFRICOM carried out as many airstrikes in the nation in the first seven months of 2019 as it did for the entirety of 2018. According to statistics from AFRICOM last month, the U.S. military carried out its 47th airstrike in Somalia on July 27 to target suspected Islamic State militants in the Golis Mountain region, which is a reputed terrorist hotbed.

AFRICOM said Wednesday that the U.S. is coordinating its diplomacy and development efforts with military activity. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale also met with Khayre in Mogadishu earlier this week, and pledged to continue U.S. support for Somalia’s political reforms, economic development and stabilization.

“They agreed on the value of security operations to liberate areas from al-Shabab and preparing Somali forces to take over from the African Union Mission to Somalia,” State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in the release.

The Prime Minister added the partnership with the U.S. is key to reform and sustaining progress, according to the AFRICOM website.

“Through our strategic partnership and support with the U.S. government, Somalia has made tangible progress in security, reconciliation, and debt relief,” said Khaire, adding the two nations will continue to partner meaningfully in pursuit of their bilateral interests.

As part of its support, AFRICOM is training a Somali military force called the Danab, a specially-trained unit of the Somali Security Forces that focuses on fighting al-Shabab and ISIS-Somalia. Al Shabab is believed to have been responsible for an October 2017 truck bombing in Mogadishu that killed 500 people and a January attack on a hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, that killed more than 20 people. AFRICOM said that the al Qaida-connected al-Shabab “remains the largest and deadliest terror organization in East Africa” and the region’s “principle security challenge.”

Townsend met with U.S. units training the Danab, and praised the job they are doing.

“The United States of America offers the best security partnership and training in the world,” Townsend said. “We invest in our partners, dedicating the time, energy and commitment to make sure they are ready for any challenge.”

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/...-somalia-as-pressure-on-al-shabaab-increases/

It doesn't matter how much pressure their put on Al sheydaan it will not change anything cuz Al KEBAAB thrives in south somalia by taxing people and business.

:noneck:Nearly 30 years of conflict when will this end
 

Diaspora ambassador

''Dagaalka gala'' Garaad Jaamac Garaad Cali
VIP
It doesn't matter how much pressure their put on Al sheydaan it will not change anything cuz Al KEBAAB thrives in south somalia by taxing people and business.

:noneck:Nearly 30 years of conflict when will this end

Eliminating al Shabaab will ensure that their forced taxation comes to an end
 

XamarWeeaboo

You expected something here didn't you?!?!?
I only know AMISOM what is AFRICOM?

AFRICOM is the US military contingent that deals with all of the US armed forces on the African continent. The have a permanent base in Djibouti and are planning, as mentioned in the article, to increase their presence in Africa- mostly to counter China and the renewed Russian presence.
 
Eliminating al Shabaab will ensure that their forced taxation comes to an end
Sxb that's easier said than done cuz as much as I want al sheydaan to be eradicated from the face of the planet I think they're going to be around for some time

What we need is to strength our army cuz foreigners cannot get rid of al sheydan for us
 

Diaspora ambassador

''Dagaalka gala'' Garaad Jaamac Garaad Cali
VIP
Sxb that's easier said than done cuz as much as I want al sheydaan to be eradicated from the face of the planet I think they're going to be around for some time

What we need is to strength our army cuz foreigners cannot get rid of al sheydan for us

True that! There is a small list of people capable of defeating Al Shabaab. In the african continent the somalis are alone on that list.

A powerful SNA is the answer light them up from the skies and karbaash them on the ground wabillahi tofiq
 
@Marsin


The Somali government already did few occasions even when Turkish citizens were killed in Mogadishu and their embassy was attacked by Alshabaab, Turkey never flinched from their belief that they would never fight a fellow Sunni (except Kurds) even if they’re terrorists. Have you seen them fight ISIS? They exchanged prisoners.

If Somalia asked Turkey to join in the fight against al shabaab, it would be much more better than the US one.
 

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