US says it will provide Somalia with $9 million in military aid

As part of its continuous support for Somalia’s fight against al-Shabab insurgents, the U.S. announced on Sunday that it will provide $9 million in fresh military aid. Since American troops returned to Somalia and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an “all-out war” against the extremists, this is the first instance of direct military assistance of this kind.

On Sunday, the government received military supplies from the American embassy in Mogadishu. The weaponry and trucks will aid the Somali National Army’s effort to free communities under al-Shabab control, the embassy tweeted.

The United States donated military equipment as a sign of good faith and as proof that the Somali military can be relied upon to manage the weapons responsibly and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands, according to Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, the defence minister of Somalia. He continued by saying that the weaponry would be crucial in the battle against the Khawarij.

Al-Shabab is referred to by the Somali officials as “khawarij,” which is a pejorative term.

Matt Bryden, a security analyst and the founder of Sahan Research, a think tank focused on the Horn of Africa, said that the new contribution was a confirmation of the Mohamud administration’s efforts to fight the extremist group.

The recent US decision to give the Somali National Army further military assistance is a vote of confidence, according to Bryden. Although it’s not a sizable sum of money, it demonstrates confidence in the advancements made in Somalia’s central regions as a result of the current campaign against al-Shabab.

Local clan militias and Somali soldiers have been fighting al-Shabab since July.

Many towns and villages have been taken over by pro-government forces, primarily in the Hirshabelle state. But the militants are launching assaults on civilian and government targets.

The Hamad Bin Khalifa Civilization Center’s Abdiasis Isaack, a security analyst, told VOA that the Somali army’s meagre armament makes the new military package essential.

According to Isaack, the military assistance will aid Somalia in its fight against al-Shabab. Having weapons of a similar calibre to those used by al-Shabab, he continued, presented the Somali force with its biggest obstacle, making it harder to defeat the organisation.

The United States is one of the biggest countries that gives money to the Somali National Army. This is especially true for its commando unit, the Danab Special Forces, which is ready to fight al-Shabab in crowded areas.