Why is Donald Trump at war against an Islamic State in Somalia

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

But in the typical style of Donald Trump, after the new US president ordered an air strike in the area last weekend, he published on social media: “We will find you and we will kill you!”

Trump said the hit, less than two weeks after his term, was aimed at senior, is a planning attack and other fighters in the semi-autonomous region of Somalia in Puntland and “destroyed the caves in which they live and killed many terrorists Without, in any way, it harms civilians. “

He boasted that he had succeeded, where former US president Joe Biden had failed.

“Biden and his comrades would not act quickly enough to do the job. I did!”

The fact that Somalia was the goal of the first major military operation in America under the new administration, surprised many in the country who feared the United States was planning to abandon them.

In his first term, Trump withdrew about 700 US troops, a decision canceled by his heir.

The $ 600,000 deal (492,000 British pounds) annually Somalia’s government has recently signed with the best Washington lobbying company, the BGR group, is an indication of how worried it is.

At Biden, US troops in Somalia performed special operations, teaching an elite Somali power and conducting regular air strikes.

The day before Airstrike, The Washington Post published an interview with Somali President Hasan Sheikh Mohamud, in which he pleaded for the United States, “not to take out US advisers and consultants who support our special forces.”

The post of X of his cabinet after the strike also had a touch of despair about this, recognizing the “unwavering support of the United States in the fight against international terrorism” and welcomed “the constant commitment under the decisive leadership of President Donald Trump.”

But the air strikes are different from the Earth troops and Trump did not stop the air bombing during his first term. In fact, it increased them to nearly 400.

“The strike does not mean that the US government will strengthen its military engagement in Somalia,” says Matt Breeden, a strategic advisor to Nairobi -based Sahan Research.

“Several US officials were expected to hold leadership positions in African affairs no longer perceive the Somalia Federal Government as a reliable partner and are deeply critical of high levels of security assistance provided in recent years to a very little significant effect.”

Puntland’s terrorism approach is different from that of the national Somali government, which reduced its ties in March last year.

It is more independent and not so strongly dependent on the support of the African Union troops – of which about 12,000 are in the place – global forces, including the United States and Turkey.

Like Mohammed Mubarak, the head of Puntland’s security coordination service, he points out that the northeast troops have been fighting for years with a little help or thanks to others.

“It is not fair to put the airplane in front and center as we fight and die on the ground,” says G -N -Mubarak.

“No matter what makes the rest of the world, we fight, which is an international problem,” he says.

“We have not seen much support except for Kenya, Ethiopia and the UAE. We do not know if Americans will hold more than one air strike.”

Puntland says his forces have taken over 48 caves and are advanced – and have destroyed dozens of drones and explosive devices – after the launch of his full -scale “Hilaac” or “Lightning” offtustment last year.

Although active in Somalia for about a decade, it poses a less threat than the Islamist group Al Shabab, which controls large parts of the country and is described as the most successful branch of Al Qaeda.

Recently, however, it has become more significant – local, regional and international.

Authorities in Puntland and unnamed US officials say that the leader of E-Somalia, the Orange Meg, the Occusized Abdulkadir Mumin, is now the world leader of the IC.

Initial reports suggest that he was killed in an American air strike last May, but has never been confirmed.

Whether Mumin is the head of the IC is either alive or dead, Is-Somalia is becoming more worried for foreign countries.

As Trump said, “These killers we found to hide in the caves threatened the United States and our allies.”

According to Trisha Bacon, director of the Political Center for Combating Terrorism at the American University of Washington, “Is-Somalia has taken more responsibilities in the Islamic State network, especially in Africa but also off the continent.”

With the branches of work throughout the continent, from Mozambique to Mali, from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Nigeria, the Is-Somalia serves as a decisive nervous center.

Mrs. Bacon warns that she is Somalia, also looks beyond Africa.

“He is positioned to facilitate and contribute to Is Attacks in the West, including the United States. He also seeks to inspire attacks in the West,” she says.

“International partners need to provide more support for Puntland’s constant efforts against the group.”

Mr. Bryiden says the agreement with Iran-backed Huti rebar across the Red Sea in Yemen is also a problem.

“Like Al-Shabab, Is-Somalia has received weapons and training from Huti in Yemen, which is a source of concern for the US government and its allies,” he says.

An increasing number of foreign fighters join the group, strengthening their strength in terms of number and expert experience.

It is believed that the main source of Is-Somalia recruits is Ethiopian migrants who gather in the port city of Puntland Bosso in the hope of a maritime passing to a better life abroad.

IS offers them a better pay than they would win in the Gulf countries, and experts say some of the higher commanders of the group are Ethiopian.

“We appreciate that Is-Somalia is 80% or more foreign fighters, mainly from North Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania and the Middle East, in that order,” says Mr. Mubarak.

He estimates that the group is about 1000 strong; The UN monitors put it at about 600 to 700.

Last October, US Command leader Africa Michael Langley said he believed he had grown up in North Somalia with about “twice” a year.

The group organized one of its most complex attacks in December in December, hitting a military base in the Barry region in Puntland.

The group released a statement stating that no Somali was included. The 12 attackers came from seven countries – Tanzania, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen and Ethiopia.

The movement also became more effective in raising money.

US, UN and Somalia experts say that a key part of IS’s financial infrastructure – the Al -Karrar – is based on Puntland, paying money and experience from other branches of the Africa group in and outside.

The US Control Office of the United States (OFAC) said that IS-SOMALIA raised nearly $ 2 million in the first half of 2022 by taxing local business, imports, nomads and farmers.

If Puntland forces will be able to expel the fighters, air support will be invaluable.

Shortly after the US strike, police in Puntland said the head of the Somalia Murder Squad Abdirahman Shirva Au-Said surrendered.

But experts say that such strikes will have to be consistent in order to pursue existing E cells in Somalia and stop other mushrooms.

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

Mary Harper wrote two books about Somalia, including everything she told me was true, a look at life under Al Shabab.