U.S May Reduce Number of Its Forces in Somalia and Other African Countries

United States (US) military forces in Somalia and several other African countries may face downsizing amid the U.S. intensified drone bombardment against Islamist groups in the continent.

Thousands of U.S military personnel and soldiers have been operating in Africa with major bases in Djibouti, Senegal and among other countries.

U.S government dispatched its forces to several countries in Asia and Africa continent to fight Al-Qaeda, ISIS and their affiliate after Al-Qaeda attacked World Trade Centre in New York town in 2001.

**An American Special Forces soldier training Nigerien troops during an exercise in April outside Agadez, Niger.CreditTara Todras-Whitehill for The New York Times**

In a report published by U.S based Newspaper, New York Times, it was announced that the World Super country plans reduce its direct military footstep in Africa by pulling out a number of its soldiers from the continent.

A total of roughly 6,000 American soldiers are currently assigned to several African countries, according to the US Africa Command (Africom).

About 500 of those commandos, trainers and logistics specialists are based in Somalia, where they assist African Union and Somali national forces in carrying out attacks on al-Shabaab.

Over 3000 U.S. soldiers based in Somalia, Senegal, Djibouti and several other countries will be withdrawn in the next three years, according to the report.

The contemplated reduction in US troop levels in Africa is mainly a product of two factors, the Times reports.

One is the political furore that erupted following the killing of four US soldiers last October during a counter-insurgency operation in Niger.

American military personnel unfurling the American and Nigerien flags at the Air Base 201 compound in Agadez. An ambush in Niger killed four American soldiers last fall, prompting an ongoing Pentagon assessment of Special Operations forces worldwide.CreditTara Todras-Whitehill for The New York Times

A Pentagon investigation into that attack “exposed a risk-taking culture among commandos,” the Times reported on Monday. And that finding strengthened US Defence Secretary James Mattis’s inclination to reduce counter-insurgency missions in Africa, the newspaper said.

At the same time, the US is putting greater emphasis on responding to perceived military threats posed by Russia, China, North Korea and Iran. A share of the special forces currently based in Africa would be reassigned to missions elsewhere in the world in accordance with that strategic reassessment, the Times said.

Attacks against Al-Shabab

Over 40 airstrikes and covert operations have been conducted by U.S. military since 2017, leading deaths of hundreds of Al-Shabab fighters with several civilian casualties.

President Donald Trump loosened restrictions on US military operations in Somalia that the Obama administration had put in place with the aim of avoiding civilian casualties.

An escalation in drone strikes ensued, along with an increase in the number of US military personnel inside Somalia.

**US Military helicopters carry troops to Djibouti base, on October 19, 2016. [ photo online]**

The Defence Department maintains there is no evidence that US forces have killed any Somali civilians since field commanders were given greater leeway in ordering attacks on Shabaab targets.

U.S. government in cooperation with the federal government has intensified operations against Al-Shabab and ISIS fighters in Somalia.

Last month, U.S. drone carried out over four attacks in Southern Somalia, killing more than tens Al-Shabab fighters.

On Sunday, in Statement by Africom, US Military said it killed 27 Al-Shabab fighters near Bossaso town, northern Somalia