U.S. Considers Extended Military Presence in Somalia

U.S. Considers Extended Military Presence in Somalia: U.S. Secretary of State Pete Hegseth has acknowledged that the U.S. military presence in Africa remains "critical", as discussions are underway for a long-term role of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in the country. There are growing concerns over the resilience of Al-Shabaab and Islamic State (IS) in Somalia, despite years of counterterrorism efforts against the terrorist groups. The U.S. currently has about 500 military personnel stationed in Somalia that provide aerial surveillance, intelligence, and precision airstrikes to support Somali and African Union forces. The U.S. army has maintained an intermittent military presence in the East African nation. In 2020, former President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of nearly all U.S. troops but the decision was reversed in 2022 by the Biden administration.