Photo/Somali Times
Somali President Mohamed Farmajo warns US against losing the friendship with Somalia.
Somali President Mohamed Farmajo has called for continued US military support to Somalia. The President also warned that the friendship between the United States and Somalia could be achieved through the continuation of security cooperation between the two countries.
US President Donald Trump recently told his top advisers that he wanted the withdrawal of US troops from Somalia, sources told Bloomberg.
The United States has 700 soldiers in Somalia, most of which are special forces and help train Somali forces. All or most of these troops were deployed during Trump’s tenure. In a brief tweet, President Farmajo said, “US military support for Somalia has allowed us to effectively fight al-Shabaab and secure the Horn of Africa.”
“Success in this journey, the friendship between the United States and Somalia, can be achieved through continued security cooperation, and support for capacity building,” he said. From the removal of American troops in Somalia to allow Trump to meet one of the promises of the campaign was, to US troops fighting in different world back in the country.
The US President Donald Trump desire to withdraw troops from Somalia, however, has not been easy, with officials warning that this could lead to holes being filled by al-Shabaab.
“If US troops withdraw from Somalia, it will further weaken the security situation in Somalia, which has previously been difficult for the federal government,” said Colin Thomas Jensen, senior adviser on African politics to former US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power. .