Key Highlights
- United States is planning to intensify drone strikes as part of counterterrorism efforts in East Africa and especially in the war torn Somalia.
- US to launch anti-terror activities by unmanned aircraft that left key Al Shabaab leaders including its Chief Ahmed Abdi Godane dead.
- The move to increase drone attacks has been welcomed by former Somali Defense Minister Abdihakin Fiqi acknowledging that US military and Somalia have in the past shared intelligence and monitoring of Al Shabaab activities.
- Al Shabaab suffered huge operational loss when US drone strikes raided on encampment in southern Somalia killing their Chief, Ahmed Abdi Godane in September, 2014.
- Al Shabaab is being fought from all angles; last Sunday, Ethiopian attack helicopters targeted four Al Shabaab technical leaders with missiles in Gadon village, about 4km off Masagaway in Galgaduud region.
Assessment
While addressing the local media, Fiqi told VOA Somali Service that drones are operated with high precision over the course of a known area of target thus has minimal civilian casualties.
United States remains a strategic security ally, helping UN-backed national government weaken and oust the militants grip on the few areas in central and southern Somalia.
During President Obama’s visit to Kenya recently, the US air force liaised with the Kenyan military on how they will strengthen Kenya-Somalia border to bar possible infiltration besides backing up Kenya Defence Forces operations in Jubba and Gedo regions in Southwestern Somalia.
Summary & Forecast
Somali government forces alongside African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM) have secured victories against Al Shabaab militants and took back control of key towns in southwestern Somalia.
Changing of counter insurgency as well as counter-terrorism policies will greatly help in eliminating the Harakat al Shabaab al Mujahideen remnants from the areas they are still holding.
Close intelligence cooperation between the US and all forces inside Somalia will stabilize in the region as well as for Somalia immediate neighbours.
Though this may be seen as short-term solution, it will lay ground for the implementation of lasting security policies that would ensure that East African countries and broader horn of Africa vitiates domestic terrorist activities besides stifling transnational terrorism within the region.
Nkt nkt. Now you are telling the enemies so that they start sleeping outside.. And they are missed by the drone bombs??
US has droned them in the past e.g Godane. Nothing new here.
i like it never give fo0rces go! go! go!
leaking intelligence that’s unwise!
I doubt.. it will make those fighters to think twice
And you think you helped by revealing it?
haya twayacheck
heheheee hiyo ni poa waright off kabisaa
This is not wise its stupidity how do you tell your enemies your plans or you think ala shaabab are not in Facebook? I have never seen al shaabab posting such nonsense
Alshabaab are fools they will wait for the attacks so as to get the 72 virgins. Lol
how can you tell your enemy whatever you are planning?use your common sense nkt.