"As Somalia moves toward normalizing its place within the world community, Mogadishu has reforged its partnership with the United States, to include the presence of American boots on the ground inside the east African nation.
To some, the thought of American troops in Somalia might conjure images of downed helicopters and protracted street combat. But times have changed since the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, American and Somali officials said.
“It’s not Black Hawk Down anymore,” Somalia’s ambassador to the U.S., Ali Sharif Ahmed, told the Washington Examiner. “Our relationship with the United States has never been so good.”
“U.S. security assistance to Somalia is an important part of our efforts to work with the people and government of Somalia for peace and stability,” U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Donald Yamamoto said, noting that a secure Somalia means more stability in the entire region. “It also means that the people of Somalia will be able to better focus on building a prosperous future.”
The U.S. has taken a “whole of government” approach to supporting Somalia, government sources said, noting that theirs is part of an international effort. Recently, the World Bank restored relations with Mogadishu for the first time in 30 years. In February, the International Monetary Fund deemed the nation eligible, under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, to be relieved of its $5.3 billion debt.
Debt relief would be momentous for Somalia, Ahmed said. “Somalia is a very rich place. But Somali resources have been locked up.” To be relieved of debt would allow the country to develop toward its goal of self-sufficiency, he said. Meanwhile, partnership persists.
Inside Somalia, the alliance with the U.S. involves fighting the extremist group al Shabab.
“Al Shabab is the largest and most violent of al Qaeda's branches worldwide," U.S. Africa Command chief Army Gen. Stephen Townsend said last month at the African Land Forces Summit in Ethiopia. "They have attacked innocent civilians throughout the region and have a desire to attack Americans and U.S. interests in the world. It’s our job to prevent that.”
As such, about 500 U.S. troops are in Somalia today. “American air support is key,” Ahmed said, referencing AFRICOM-directed strikes that have killed terrorists. “The drone attacks have increased under Trump.”
Some of the troops are special operations warfighters who train Somalia’s special forces Danab Brigade.
“The Danab units learn fast and fight well,” one active duty special operations soldier told the Washington Examiner. “This bodes well for the country’s security overall.”
“Somali security forces are demonstrating command and control of their forces, success against al Shabab, and are holding ground,” said Col. Charles Bergman, lead integrator for U.S. Africa Command operations in Africa. “They are earning the respect of the Somali people.”
“Al Shabab is on the run,” Ahmed told the Washington Examiner. Although the country remains under a partial arms embargo imposed by the United Nations, government forces fight al Shabab primarily using AK-47 small arms. “The soldiers chase them out, and the bushes will take care of them.”
The military partnership between the U.S. and Somalia is not as odd as it initially may seem, sources said.
“It’s a natural fit between two people with a common enemy,” the special operations warfighter said.
Somalis previously supported U.S. forces, said Jim Lechner, a retired Army Infantry officer who was wounded in the 1993 battle that is known inside Somalia as the Day of the Rangers. “There were five neighborhoods in Mogadishu. Four of them supported us and helped rescue our people. We worked well together.” The fifth neighborhood, under warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, spun violence and pandemonium that spread throughout the entire country.
Now, Lechner says, “Somalia has nowhere to go but up.”
“Thirty years ago, they were the ultimate example of a failed state and how a civilization crumbled into chaos. They have made improvements and seem to have recognized the value of partnering with the U.S. to fight against the evils of extremism.”
“Our relationship with the U.S. has never been so good,” Ahmed said. “We want to engage with the USA. It’s so much better now.” Still, Ahmed said, Somalia aims toward independence, both military and financial.
“No, Somali today wants to go back to where they came from,” Ahmed said. “Somalis want to move forward.”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/...re-us-and-somalia-team-up-to-fight-terrorists
To some, the thought of American troops in Somalia might conjure images of downed helicopters and protracted street combat. But times have changed since the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, American and Somali officials said.
“It’s not Black Hawk Down anymore,” Somalia’s ambassador to the U.S., Ali Sharif Ahmed, told the Washington Examiner. “Our relationship with the United States has never been so good.”
“U.S. security assistance to Somalia is an important part of our efforts to work with the people and government of Somalia for peace and stability,” U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Donald Yamamoto said, noting that a secure Somalia means more stability in the entire region. “It also means that the people of Somalia will be able to better focus on building a prosperous future.”
The U.S. has taken a “whole of government” approach to supporting Somalia, government sources said, noting that theirs is part of an international effort. Recently, the World Bank restored relations with Mogadishu for the first time in 30 years. In February, the International Monetary Fund deemed the nation eligible, under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, to be relieved of its $5.3 billion debt.
Debt relief would be momentous for Somalia, Ahmed said. “Somalia is a very rich place. But Somali resources have been locked up.” To be relieved of debt would allow the country to develop toward its goal of self-sufficiency, he said. Meanwhile, partnership persists.
Inside Somalia, the alliance with the U.S. involves fighting the extremist group al Shabab.
“Al Shabab is the largest and most violent of al Qaeda's branches worldwide," U.S. Africa Command chief Army Gen. Stephen Townsend said last month at the African Land Forces Summit in Ethiopia. "They have attacked innocent civilians throughout the region and have a desire to attack Americans and U.S. interests in the world. It’s our job to prevent that.”
As such, about 500 U.S. troops are in Somalia today. “American air support is key,” Ahmed said, referencing AFRICOM-directed strikes that have killed terrorists. “The drone attacks have increased under Trump.”
Some of the troops are special operations warfighters who train Somalia’s special forces Danab Brigade.
“The Danab units learn fast and fight well,” one active duty special operations soldier told the Washington Examiner. “This bodes well for the country’s security overall.”
“Somali security forces are demonstrating command and control of their forces, success against al Shabab, and are holding ground,” said Col. Charles Bergman, lead integrator for U.S. Africa Command operations in Africa. “They are earning the respect of the Somali people.”
“Al Shabab is on the run,” Ahmed told the Washington Examiner. Although the country remains under a partial arms embargo imposed by the United Nations, government forces fight al Shabab primarily using AK-47 small arms. “The soldiers chase them out, and the bushes will take care of them.”
The military partnership between the U.S. and Somalia is not as odd as it initially may seem, sources said.
“It’s a natural fit between two people with a common enemy,” the special operations warfighter said.
Somalis previously supported U.S. forces, said Jim Lechner, a retired Army Infantry officer who was wounded in the 1993 battle that is known inside Somalia as the Day of the Rangers. “There were five neighborhoods in Mogadishu. Four of them supported us and helped rescue our people. We worked well together.” The fifth neighborhood, under warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, spun violence and pandemonium that spread throughout the entire country.
Now, Lechner says, “Somalia has nowhere to go but up.”
“Thirty years ago, they were the ultimate example of a failed state and how a civilization crumbled into chaos. They have made improvements and seem to have recognized the value of partnering with the U.S. to fight against the evils of extremism.”
“Our relationship with the U.S. has never been so good,” Ahmed said. “We want to engage with the USA. It’s so much better now.” Still, Ahmed said, Somalia aims toward independence, both military and financial.
“No, Somali today wants to go back to where they came from,” Ahmed said. “Somalis want to move forward.”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/...re-us-and-somalia-team-up-to-fight-terrorists
Nothing makes me happier than seeing a strong healthy SNA & development all over the country.
