# US provides $9 Million in Military Support to Somalia

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2023/01/us-provides-9-million-in-military-support-to-somalia/
- Published: 2023-01-10T09:18:35+01:00
- Author: Patrick Kenyette

The U.S. will be giving $9 million in new military aid to help Somalia’s ongoing
campaign against al-Shabab militants.

It’s the first such direct military support since U.S. forces returned to Somalia
and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced an “all-out war” against the militants.

The U.S. embassy in Mogadishu handed over military equipment to the government Sunday.
According to a tweet from the embassy, the weapons and vehicles will support the
campaign by the Somali National Army to liberate communities from al-Shabab control.

According to Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, Somalia’s Defense Minister, the military donation
from the U.S. was a show of confidence and testimony that the Somali military can
be trusted to manage the weapons without it falling into the wrong hands. He added
that the weapons will play an important role in fighting the Khawarij.

Khawarij is a derogatory term which Somali officials use to describe al-Shabab.

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Somali forces have been engaged in an offensive alongside local clan militias against
al-Shabab since July.

The pro-government forces have captured many villages and towns, mostly in the Hirshabelle
state. However, the militants continue to mount counterattacks against government
forces and civilian targets.

The U.S. is among the largest contributors of support to the Somali National Army,
especially for its commando wing, the Danab Special Forces, which is trained for
close-range fighting with al-Shabab in urban areas.

The Danab Brigade (or “Lightning Brigade”) is a highly trained Somali National Army
infantry/commando force.

In July 2021, United States African Command (AFRICOM) [delivered six Puma M36 Mk 6 armoured vehicles](https://www.military.africa/2021/07/us-gifts-six-puma-mk6-armored-personnel-carriers-to-somalia/)
to complement Somali security forces in the fight against al-Shabaab.

The Puma M36 Mk 6 armoured vehicles and it’s associated equipment were turned-over
to SNA-Danab forces July 6 in a ceremony attended by leaders in the Somali Defense
Forces.

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The U.S. also planned to [deliver at least 100 light combat vehicles to Somalia](https://www.military.africa/2021/07/us-gifts-six-puma-mk6-armored-personnel-carriers-to-somalia/military.africa/2020/09/to-counter-turkey-us-prepares-to-supply-100-vehicles-to-somalia)
in order to support it’s war against Al-Shabaab and counter Turkish growing influence
in the country.

Meanwhile, in May last year, United States [President Joe Biden authorized the deployment of hundreds of Special Operations forces inside Somalia](https://www.military.africa/2022/05/us-plans-sending-special-forces-back-to-somalia/).

The authorization largely reverses the decision by President Donald J. Trump to 
withdraw nearly all 700 ground troops who had been stationed there by January last
year.

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The size of that force will number fewer than 500, down from the approximately 750
personnel removed from the country.

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