With AFRICOM announcing the pullout of 800 US troops from Somalia, the US has now sent a naval armada and 2,500 Marines to the coast to cover the exit. The USS Nimitz is also reportedly in the area to help if needed.
AFRICOM insists the troops will be moved from Somalia to other US bases in East Africa, meaning either Kenya or Djibouti. It’s not clear why the transfer needs all these naval assets, even if the US wants to take a boat.
The US pulled out out from Somalia after the Black Hawk Down incident in the Clinton Administration, and returned after Trump took office. This has seen growing airstrikes and ground operations against al-Shabaab, though limited changes on the ground.
AFRICOM is now warning al-Shabaab not to interfere with the withdrawal, which they probably wouldn’t do anyhow because they’d be just as interested in getting rid of the US troops as anybody.
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