Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #Danab
Most recents (7)
The #AlShabaab bombing in Mogadishu this weekend was meant as retaliation and deterrent against Somali government forces. Somali federal and local forces are putting serious pressure on al Shabaab in central and SW Somalia. (1/8)
An #AlShabaab suicide bomber attacked new Somali National Army (SNA) recruits in Mogadishu on Sep 25, killing at least 11 soldiers and wounding 18 others. Al Shabaab inflated the death toll to 32 in its claim. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…. (2/8)
#AlShabaab has signaled it will escalate operations in Mogadishu in response to the SFG and clan militia offensive in central and SW Somalia. @USAfricaCommand and @ATMIS_Somalia are also providing air and logistical support to Somali forces. criticalthreats.org/briefs/africa-…. (3/8) 
NEW: #China "proceeding to increase their access & influence on the continent" & seeks to establish more military bases in #Africa, outgoing @USAfricaCommand Commander Gen Stephen Townsend tells @GWUPMNS
"Some of the most lethal terrorists on the planet are now in Africa...#alQaida & #ISIS " per @USAfricaCommand's Gen Townsend
"We've prevented strategic distraction" per Gen Townsend on his time at @USAfricaCommand - says US has been able to address threats in #Africa without taking focus on primary challenges, pacing threat from #China and also #Russia
I cover US airstrikes on the ground from Somalia, and wrote a number of investigations on the topic. The implications that this potential withdrawal has given the fragile situation in the country is significant and about more than airstrikes or counter-terrorism.
Comments that the airstrikes will continue and/or the generally vague statements about the boost this could give to al Shabaab seems to be the mainstream US focus and are practically besides if you want to talk about how this will impact people on the ground.
The impact this seemingly relatively abrupt even small withdrawal could have is on Somali politics and the #Danab, the Somali Special Forces who work with the US.
"The #US change in #Somalia has nothing to do with Somalia and has to do with US politics" - a source
There's also legitimate concern that the #FGS will try to deploy #Danab around #Mogadishu to suppress any uprising at the end of the Presidential election. #Danab was formed to be a crack force against al Shabaab, not to suppress a democratic process.
The Somali federal government recently upset the US by ousting and imprisoning the #Danab commander and replacing him with one more loyal to the current president.
My understanding, as someone who has covered #Somalia from the ground since early 2017, is that this abrupt shift could have extremely negative reverberations on the people the US troops were previously meant to support.
There is no opinion here on the impact the US presence has had thus far in #Somalia, it is to say that, it is my understanding that, abrupt movements such as the quick withdrawal of troops, would not be beneficial to any stated local or international aims.
The general understanding I have is that the US has been providing support for #Danab, the Somali Special forces, who have been the most effective national militia to fight al Shabaab.
NEW: @USAfricaCommand warns #alQaida-linked #alShabaab "remains adaptive, resilient, and capable of attacking Western & partner interests in #Somalia & East #Africa" in final @DoD_IG report on US counterterrorism ops in Africa
Despite ongoing train/advise/equip efforts by US, others "The Somali government...has not met milestones for the development of its security forces" per @DoD_IG Sean O’Donnell
#Somalia #alShabaab
#Somalia #alShabaab
#ISIS #alQaida - "#Africa is providing them that venue, that safe haven where they can establish themselves" @USSOCOM #Africa Commander MajGen Dagvin Anderson tells @AEI
#AfricaCrossroad_AEI
#AfricaCrossroad_AEI
"We see Islamic State core really needing these affiliates" in #Africa, per @USSOCOM #Africa's MajGen Anderson, adding #alQaida in Africa is even more dangerous, learning from the mistakes #ISIS made in #Iraq #Syria
"They stay below that threshold"
"They stay below that threshold"
#alShabaab "has become more aligned w/#alQaida...more responsive" per @USSOCOM #Africa's MajGen Anderson
