VoA: Washington Withdraws US Troops from Somalia

The US state-run radio and television broadcasting organization known as  the Voice of America (VoA) said that Washington continues to withdraw its forces from Somalia in the implementation of President Donald Trump's directives earlier in December.

"The Voice of America" ​​quoted the Pentagon (US Department of Defense ) as announcing that the floating US military base, known as USS Hershel "Woody" Williams), "is carrying out naval operations off the coast of Somalia" bearing the name "Operation "Octave Quartz "  for the sake of" redeploying the American forces by transferring them from Somalia to other locations in East Africa, "as Kelly Cahalan, a spokeswoman for AFRICOM, said in an email to Voice of America.

The number of American soldiers in Somalia is estimated at 700, who carry out training, advisory, and assistance tasks with the  local government forces to fight  the Somali armed organization named "Al-Shabab."

This organization is one of the local groups' affiliates to Al –Qaeda.

However, the Pentagon, according to the same media source, did not clarify the number of soldiers to be withdrawn and did not mention whether the withdrawal process was completely finished or is it underway and where it will be redeployed.

The directives of Trump regarding the withdrawal of American forces from Somalia are part of Washington's intention to completely withdraw its forces from several locations in which it is spread across the world, including Afghanistan and Iraq, before the end of his term on January 20, 2021.

The VoA, quoting the Pentagon, stated that "the withdrawn forces (from Somalia) will continue their mission in combating violent extremist organizations in the region."

This comes at a time when Somalia is preparing to organize legislative and presidential elections.

On December 8th, the US ambassador in Mogadishu called on the Somali parties to implement the political agreement on the elections that was reached in September.

He indicated that Washington will hold accountable anyone who tries to hamper elections.

In his speech during the Partnership Forum for Somalia conference held earlier in December in Mogadishu, Ambassador Donald Yamamoto sent a message to Somali presidential candidates opposing the federal government, warning against creating parallel elections.