Why Donald Trump in the war against the Islamic State in Somalia

Finding and fighting fighters who have become the beating heart of the Islamic State Group (IS) in Africa can be a difficult work because they hide in the depths of the northeastern mountains of Somalia.

But in the typical style of Donald Trump, after the new US President ordered an air strike in the region at the end of last week, he posted on social media: “We will find you, and we will kill you!”

Trump said that the strike, less than two weeks after his mandate, targeted senior planning for the attack and other militants in the semi -autonomous Somalia region, and “the caves in which they lived, and killed many terrorists without anyone, without, in any way,,, Civilians' harm. “

He boasted that he had succeeded as former US President Joe Biden failed.

“Biden will not act quickly enough to accomplish the mission. I have done!”

The fact that Somalia surprised the target of the first major military operation in America under the new administration that surprised many in the country who were afraid that the United States would plan to abandon it.

During his first term, Trump withdrew about 700 American soldiers, a decision reflected in his successor.

600,000 dollars (492,000 pounds) a year deals with the recently signed Somalia government with the Big Washington pressure company, The BGR Group, an indication of its concern.

During the Biden era, the American forces in Somalia were carrying out special operations, training of the Somali elite force and performing regular air strikes.

A day before the air strike, the Washington Post published an interview with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, who defended the United States, “the failure of American advisers and advisers to support the training of our special forces.”

There was a post on X of his office after the strike also a touch of despair on this issue, acknowledging “fixed support for the United States in combating international terrorism” and welcoming “a continuous commitment to the decisive leadership of President Donald Trump.”

But air strikes are different from the forces on the ground and Trump did not stop the air strikes during his first term. In fact, he increased them to nearly 400.

“The strike does not mean that the United States government will intensify its military participation in Somalia,” says Matt Briden, Nairobi's strategic adviser.

“Many US officials no longer expect to hold leadership positions in African affairs that the Somalia federal government is a reliable partner and strongly criticizes high levels of security assistance provided in recent years for its very concrete impact.”

Puntland's approach to combating terrorism is different from the cash of the Somali national government, which reduced relations in March last year.

It is more self -dependent and does not depend significantly on support from the African Union forces – of which about 12,000 on the ground – and global forces including the United States and Turkey.

Mohamed Mubarak, head of security coordination in Puntland, also notes that it was forces from the northeast that were fighting for years with a little help or thanks from others.

Mubarak says: “It is not fair to put the front and the center in the air raid while we were fighting and die on the ground,” Mubarak says.

He says: “Regardless of what the rest of the world does, we are fighting, which is an international problem.”

“We have not seen much support from Kenya, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. We do not know whether the Americans will make more than one air strike.”

Buntland says its forces have acquired 48 caves, cabinets – and have destroyed dozens of drones and explosive devices – since its “HIAAC” attack on a large scale or “Lightning” last year.

Although it was active in Somalia about a decade ago, it represents a lower threat than the Islamic Youth Group, which controls large parts of the country and has been described as the most successful in al -Qaeda.

However, recently, it has become more important – locally, regional and international.

The authorities in Puntland and uninterrupted US officials say that the leader of Somalia, who is now, is a world president, is now a global president of DOS.

Initial reports indicate that it has been killed in an American air strike that has been confirmed.

Whether Mumin is president, lack of or dead, IS-Somalia has become increasingly concerned for foreign countries.

Trump also said: “These killers, who found hiding in the caves, threatened the United States and our allies.”

According to Tarchia Bacon, director of the anti-terrorist policy at the American University in Washington, DC, “IS-Somalia has taken more responsibilities within the Islamic State Network, especially in Africa, but outside the continent as well.”

With the IS branches operating all over the continent, from Mozambique to Mali, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Nigeria, IS-Somalia operates as a decisive nervous center.

Mrs. Pacon warns that Somalia looks beyond Africa as well.

“It is placed in putting off and contributing attacks in the West, including the United States. It also seeks to inspire attacks in the West,” she says.

“International partners must provide more support for Puntland's ongoing efforts against the group.”

Mr. Praiden says that collusion with the Iranian -backed Houthi rebels across the Red Sea in Yemen is also a problem.

“Like young people, IS-Somalia receives weapons and training from the Houthis in Yemen, a source of concern for the American government and its allies,” he says.

An increasing number of foreign fighters joins the group, which enhances its strength in terms of numbers and experiences.

The main source of IS-Somalia is believed to be the Ethiopian immigrants, who meet in the city of Buso in Portland in the hope of the sea crossing to a better life outside.

They are offered better than they will get in the Gulf states, and experts say that some of the leading leaders in the group are Ethiopians.

Mr. Mubarak says: “We assess that this is 80 % or more foreign fighters, most of them from North Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania and the Middle East, in this order,” says Mr. Mubarak.

It is estimated that the group is about 1000; UN screens were placed in about 600 to 700.

Last October, the President of the US African Command, Michael Langley, said he believed that he had grown in northern Somalia about two “parts” in one year.

The group organized one of its most developed attacks in December, and hit a military base in the Bari area in Buntland.

The group issued a statement saying that he did not participate in Somali. The 12 attacks of seven countries – Tanzania, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen and Ethiopia.

The movement has also become more effective in raising money.

The United States, the United Nations and the United Nations and Somalia say a major part of IS – Carrier's office – located in Buntland, and spending money and experiences to other branches in the group in Africa and abroad.

The US Department of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) said that IS-Somalia raised nearly two million dollars in the first half of 2022 by imposing taxes on local companies, imports, Bedouins and farmers.

If the Puntland forces will succeed in expelling the militants, the air support will prove that it is invaluable.

Soon after the American strike, Puntland police said that the head of the IS-Somalia assassination division, Abdul Rahman Sherwa, surrendered.

But experts say that such strikes will need to be consistent to search for cells in Somalia and stop others.

It is unclear whether the United States and its unexpected leader have delicious to maintain the bombing of the northeastern Somalia mountains.

Mary Harper wrote two books on Somalia, including all that she told me is true, a look at life under the youth.