Biden set to redeploy troops to Somalia, reversing Trump withdrawal
by Jordan Williams - 05/16/22 10:55 AM ET
President Biden will redeploy troops to Somalia to counter al Qaeda affiliate al-Shabaab, reversing former President Trump’s decision to withdraw forces from the country near the end of his administration.
“President Biden has approved a request from the Secretary of Defense to reestablish a persistent U.S. military presence in Somalia to enable a more effective fight against al-Shabaab, which has increased in strength and poses a heightened threat,” a senior administration official told The Hill in a statement.
“This is a repositioning of forces already in theater who have travelled in and out of Somalia on an episodic basis since the previous administration made the decision to withdraw in January 2021,” the official continued.
The official didn’t say how many troops would be sent to Somalia. The New York Times, which first reported the move, cited officials saying the number would be no more than 450 troops.
The Times also reported that Biden had signed off on the proposal from the Pentagon earlier this month.
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https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3489821-biden-set-to-redeploy-troops-to-somalia-reversing-trump-withdrawal/