U.S. Troops to reposition out of Somalia
the 3-4 October battle.
The President of the United States has ordered the Department of Defense and the United States Africa Command to reposition the majority of personnel and assets out of Somalia by early 2021.
The U.S. is not withdrawing or disengaging from Africa. We remain committed to our African partners and enduring support through a whole-of-government approach.
While a change in force posture, this action is not a change in U.S. policy. We will continue to degrade violent extremist organizations that could threaten our homeland while ensuring we maintain our strategic advantage in great power competition.
As a result of this decision, some forces may be reassigned outside of East Africa. However, the remaining forces will be repositioned from Somalia into neighboring countries in order to allow cross-border operations by both U.S. and partner forces to maintain pressure against violent extremist organizations operating in Somalia.
The U.S. will retain the capability to conduct targeted counterterrorism operations in Somalia, and collect early warnings and indicators regarding threats to the homeland.
Nearby training centers have been operating, with the latest setup being in July.
Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Europe Africa Central (EURAFCENT) opened Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Division (FEAD) Somalia aboard Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, on July 15, 2020.
“FEAD Somalia enables the newly established Navy Contracting Office (NCO) by providing targeted resources to help expedite emergency and recurring requirements in the AOR (Area of Operation),” said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Hightower, assistant operations officer at NAVFAC EURAFCENT. “This construct supports AFRICOM (U.S. Africa Command) tasking where the Navy assumes the lead service for Base Operating Support-Integrator (BOS-I).”
The office is slated for 22 personnel with 11 working out of Camp Lemonnier and the remaining 10 distributed across contingency locations in East Africa, said Hightower.
“NAVFAC EURAFCENT is supporting troops and warfighters who are conducting counter-terrorism operations within Africa,” said…
The Effort to Save Somalia, a Timeline