Don’t Let Somalia Become a Black Hole for U.S. Counter-Terrorism Funding
Morgan Lorraine Roach /
Back in January, President Obama said that he has no intention of sending U.S. troops into terrorist havens. However, in addition to working with regional partners to support the Dijbouti Peace Process, the administration is currently playing a direct role in providing Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) with increased support in an effort to stabilize the country against insurgent groups, many connected to the terrorist organization, al-Shabaab.
In an effort to beef up the U.S. counter-terrorism strategy, the United States is committed to denying al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations safe haven in Somalia. According to the New York Times, the U.S. is currently providing training to Somali intelligence officers, support to peacekeepers, fuel for military maneuvers, surveillance information concerning insurgent positioning, and funding for arms. While the vast majority of American assistance to the TFG has gone to training and supporting African Union peacekeepers, it is believed that the U.S. could become more heavily involved, including launching air strikes and “Special Ops moving in, hitting, and getting out,” according to a source cited by the New York Times.