For the past 16 months, American military troops in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility have given ad hoc advise-and-assist support to Somali forces, traveling into the nation when needed and then returning.
The United States is assisting Somali soldiers in their struggle against al-Shabab. But, according to Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby, the ad hoc strategy will eventually give way to a more permanent presence in the nation.
“The president has authorized the Department of Defense to return a small, persistent U.S. military presence to Somalia,” Kirby told reporters Monday during a briefing in the Pentagon. “This decision was based on a request from [Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III] and included advice from senior commanders and, of course, concern for the safety of our troops who have incurred additional risk by deploying in and out of Somalia on an episodic basis for the past 16 months.”
Kirby stated that preparations for how and when that change would be implemented are currently being developed. He did, however, emphasise that the job for US soldiers participating will remain the same – they will advise and assist but will not be physically involved in the battle.
“Those forces, as they have been, will continue to be used in training, advising, and equipping partner forces to give them the tools that they need to disrupt, degrade and monitor al-Shabab,” Kirby said. “Our forces are not now, nor will they be, directly engaged in combat operations. Here, the purpose is to enable a more effective fight against al-Shabab by local forces.”
Kirby told reporters that the Department acknowledges that al-Shabab has grown in power and hence constitutes a greater threat. According to him, the current paradigm of US help going in and out of the nation as needed is ineffective.
“The advise-and-assist mission, as we’ve seen in many places around the world, is best done when you’re on-site, and you can develop those relationships and keep those conversations going and stay as relevant as possible,” he said. “When you’re coming and going, that … contact is a little bit harder to work.”
Kirby also stated that just entering and exiting the nation, rather than being in situ, increased the risk to US forces.
“Shifting to a persistent presence will not change the mission and it will not imply substantial changes in resources,” he said. “We’re working now to evaluate local conditions, including those following the Somali presidential election yesterday. And we’re engaging partners in the region, including the Somali government to determine the best way forward.”
