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Trump “directed the US Department of Defense and the African General Staff to relocate the majority of Somalia’s people and resources in early 2021,” the department said in a statement.
The Pentagon stressed that the United States “is not withdrawing or distancing itself from Africa” amid concerns about the declining role of the United States in various parts of the continent.
“We will continue to weaken violent extremist organizations that could endanger our country, and we will ensure that our strategic advantage against a great power is maintained,” the Defense Department added.
US headquarters in Africa had about 700 soldiers in Somalia, as well as other US security support personnel and private security contractors who contributed to both the al-Shabaab crackdown and the training of Somali forces.
The US contingent suffered casualties in these operations, including the death of a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) staff member in late November.
Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller visited Somalia a week ago and “reaffirmed the United States’ determination to work to weaken violent extremist organizations that threaten American interests, partners and allies in the region,” the Pentagon said.
In the final weeks of his term, Trump called for restrictions on the US military role in several countries.
The president ordered a reduction in US contingents in Afghanistan and Iraq in mid-January, leaving 2.5,000 in each country. soldiers.
The Pentagon said on Friday that some of the Americans leaving Somalia will be relocated to neighboring countries to continue participating in operations against extremist groups alongside associated forces.
“The United States will maintain the ability to conduct targeted counterterrorism operations in Somalia and to collect early warnings and [stebėti] signals related to threats to our country ”, emphasized the Department of Defense.
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