US General Michael Langley confirmed at a press briefing as the African Chiefs of Defence Forces Conference came to an end in Nairobi on Friday that AFRICOM has doubled the number of airstrikes it has carried out against terror groups in Somalia this year and will continue to assist the nation in its fight against Al-Shabaab upon request.
The Sahel and Lake Chad Basin regions are the most unstable fronts in Africa’s battle against terrorism. Terrorist groups linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda are operating in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin areas. Al-Shabaab has exploited the underlying vulnerabilities of their local contexts and continue to operate not only in the affected countries but to the risk of regional and global security. Effective responses to these groups will demand an amalgamation of military, political, and socio-economic measures which increase regional collaboration and seek international support to tackle the root causes and impacts of terrorism on related areas.
Langley said the U.S is still determined to work with Somali stakeholders, regional partners and neighbours to increase co-operation in defeating the dangerous threat posed by Al-Shabaab, without addressing AUSSOM’s financial issues.
“That’s essentially a question of policy and diplomacy. I’m aware the African Union (AU) and the UN are working to address these issues, but from a security and operational standpoint, we firmly believe in the long-term stability of Somalia.”
he said.
The General emphasised that Somalia has to develop its capabilities in order to play a leading role in tackling its internal security issues. “We can help with that. In order to help the Somali National Army (SNA) accomplish its security goals, we want to encourage shared responsibility among a large coalition. The wider challenges are shown by AUSSOM’s present financial problems, but I’ll let others dispute that. He went on to say that resolving those issues will make it much easier for the SNA to continue fighting Al-Shabaab.
According to General Langley, the airstrikes have helped Al-Shabaab deteriorate, which has led to an increase in ambushes and improvised explosive device (IED) assaults. As part of larger attempts to weaken ISIS-Somalia’s capacity to sustain a worldwide network, the attacks have also interfered with its activities and reduced its geographical control.
“These intensified strikes have achieved tactical victories against both groups. Nevertheless, sustainable success will hinge on a thorough strategy that addresses the underlying causes of instability. This entails institutional development within the SNA and wider governance structures,” he said.
Key topics covered during the conference, which got underway earlier this week, include counterterrorism initiatives and the necessity of coordinated actions to create a future army that can provide security, stability, and prosperity throughout the continent.
“To guarantee peace and development for their countries, African military are taking on security threats head-on and grasping possibilities. They still step up and take charge of their destinies even as I speak,”
Langley said.
