US troops ‘commuting’ to Somalia is inefficient and risky, top Africa general says

[rebewranger]

US troops ‘commuting’ to Somalia is inefficient and risky, top Africa general says
By Meghann Myers
 Mar 15, 03:02 PM
 
It’s been about 14 months since the Trump administration announced its decision to pull about 700 troops out of Somalia. The head of U.S. Africa Command has now assessed that strategy: It’s not working.

The previous arrangement saw a rotation of U.S. troops on the ground, day-to-day with Somalian forces, both facilitating training and helping with their offensive operations against al-Shabab, the largest and most well-funded wing of al-Qaida. Now, troops based in Kenya and Djibouti are only making visits.


“My view is that our periodic engagement, also referred to as ‘commuting to work,’ has caused new challenges and risks for our troops,” Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, head of AFRICOM, told lawmakers Tuesday during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. “I believe my assessment is that it is not effective, it’s not efficient, and it puts our troops at greater risk.”

https://www.armytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2022/03/15/us-troops-commuting-to-somalia-is-inefficient-and-risky-top-africa-general-says/

[Smokin Joe]

“I believe my assessment is that it is not effective, it’s not efficient, and it puts our troops at greater risk.”

Well, that's probably the intent, going by the performance of the current Administration..

[Fishrrman]

Why do we have troops in Somalia at all...?

[mountaineer]

Why do we have troops in Somalia at all...?

Of how many other countries could we ask that same question? Why are we anywhere in Africa?

[Smokin Joe]

Of how many other countries could we ask that same question? Why are we anywhere in Africa?

To keep tabs on mineral resources (oil, cobalt, uranium,gold, etc.), which Muslim extremists are doing what to whom, have a rapid response force for embassies in case there is a coup somewhere, and medical research ( some nasty bugs show up there).