The US military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) has confirmed that the withdrawal of US troops from Somalia has been completed.
AFRICOM spokesman Colonel Christopher Karns said the work was completed two days before the lapse of the US president Donald Trump’s set time for US troops withdrawal from Somalia which was on 15th of January.
Karns said a very small number of US troops remain in Somalia. Colonel Karns said their mission is now in the next phase of co-operating with the Somali army.
He however, threatened that the United States would continue to crack down on Somali terror group Al-Shabaab.
The number of US troops in Somalia are reported to be 650-800 soldiers who were in Somalia to help train the Somali forces, particularly the military utility.
President Trump has called for the withdrawal of US troops from Somalia in early December last year.
However, the Somali officials have expressed concern about the decision. They have widely called on the US to continue operations in Somalia to help double up efforts to stabilize the Horn of Africa nation.
BY OSMAN HUSSEIN ALI
