Al-Shabaab continue to conduct operations from across the regions of Somalia. The Al-Qaeda affiliate, Al-Shabaab through its various propaganda media channels has boasted of its recent successful attacks in Bosaso prison break, suicide operation targeting a busy restaurant in Mogadishu’s Hamar Jajab’s district and daring mortar shelling attack at the heavily fortified Halane camp in Mogadishu where regional leaders were expected to convene for a meeting.
Subsequently, security and counterterrorism actors in Somalia have raised concerns about the lack of air campaigns in the Horn of Africa nation, arguing that the move could invigorate Al-Shabaab terrorists’ an opportunity to expand territories and control in the country struggling with insecurity.
For example, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) is yet to carry out frequent air operations against the Al-Qaeda affiliated militants since US President Joe Biden assumed office in Jan 20.
The US withdrew at least 700 of its servicemen who had been supporting and training the weak Somali forces beginning of this year, leaving only a limited presence in the war-torn nation.
Somalia officials also have shared the same concerns that, the country’s allies failure or slow down to initiate air assaults against Al-Shabaab could see Somalia lose the fight at the very critical stage further eroding the already gains made against the Islamist terrorists over the years.
Airstrikes have been instrumental towards disrupting the group’s movements and plants to mount attacks. Lack of air campaign could bring life back to Al-Shabaab, meaning the fighters could come out of the hiding, with battlewagons and other weaponry beside start gathering in large numbers.
Lack of air support will be detrimental not only to the security of Somalia but to the region if Al-Shabab were given the freedom to move around citing airstrikes have always given combat troops required reinforcement during operations. Somalia is keen to have the partners conduct the airstrikes. This is manifested by the recent remarks by the SNA chief, General Yusuf Rageh Odowaa, who said it’s practically impossible to crash Al-Shabaab without aerial support.
