AFRICOM commander pledges continued U.S. Security support for Somalia

The commander of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin Anderson, has praised ongoing Somali military operations against Al-Shabaab and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to supporting Somalia’s security forces in the fight against the militant group.

General Anderson said U.S. support for Somali-led security operations would continue, including targeted airstrikes conducted in support of Somali forces operating against Al-Shabaab.

He described the Somali military’s ongoing offensive operations against the group as commendable and said AFRICOM would maintain its partnership with Somalia’s security institutions.

“These are commendable steps in the operations being conducted by the Somali forces against Al-Shabaab. Our support for that effort will never stop. We have conducted strikes against various targets in support of the forces carrying out the operations,” General Anderson said.

The United States has provided training, equipment and other assistance to Somalia’s security forces, including the elite Danab special operations units. U.S. forces have also conducted airstrikes and supported counterterrorism operations targeting Al-Shabaab and Islamic State militants in different parts of Somalia.

The continued U.S.-Somalia security partnership comes as Somali forces intensify military operations aimed at weakening Al-Shabaab’s operational capabilities and disrupting its ability to carry out attacks.