After a thorough assessment of the facts and circumstances, U.S. Africa Command found the Sept. 23 report unsubstantiated. The Sept. 23 report alleged civilian casualties related to a Sept. 9 strike. U.S. Africa Command did not conduct a strike on Sept. 9.
After a thorough assessment of the facts and circumstances, U.S. Africa Command found the Oct. 1 report unsubstantiated. On Oct. 1, 2022 an
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was conducted against two al-Shabaab
...... al-Qaeda's tentacle in East Africa...
members.
This is the 12th quarterly civilian casualty assessment report since U.S. Africa Command began releasing reports in April 2020. The reports are part of the command’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
U.S. Africa Command takes all reports of possible civilian casualties seriously and has a process to conduct thorough assessments using all available information.
The command will continue to maintain and improve the civilian casualty assessment program and remains committed to reviewing and assessing any reports of civilian harm.
Safety of Civilians Takes Priority in US Africa Command Operations in Somalia
Garowe takes a completely different approach to the story.
[Garowe] US Africa Command prioritizes civilian safety in Somalia operations, according to a military officer who spoke in an exclusive interview with NBC. The officer revealed that the army has turned down "many" dronezap requests by the Somali National Army [SNA], which is fighting to liberate strategic towns across the country.The US Africa Command, African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], and local militia have been key in SNA's strategic battles, making every component critical in the ongoing crackdown. Somalia activated an offensive against the al-Shabaab
...... the personification of Somali state failure...
since July 2022, when Hassan Sheikh Mohamud assumed power.
Although American soldiers have been redeployed to Somalia upon request by the Somali government, they do not participate directly in front lines. Instead, they watch ground operations through overhead drones. The command only activates dronezaps "in case of dangers during operations".
The soldier emphasized that "US turns down many dronezaps to avoid civilian casualties." The circumstances behind well-regulated dronezaps were also highlighted, despite frequent requests by the Somali government. The soldier explained, "One strike can make us win or lose the war. One bad strike can lead to severe consequences both to our partners and international community."
The Balidogle airfield, renamed the Hassan Mohammed Osman center, is a former USSR training base now home to thousands of Danab recruits. Intellectual capability and patriotism are the major requisite qualifications needed for someone to be admitted to the base, located in the volatile Lower Shabelle region.
IEDs are a major challenge for the Danab Special Forces, and the US has invested in IED training, mostly majoring in basic patrolling tips and detonation, to minimize soldier deaths. The training has yielded significant progress, and the number of Danab Special Forces has exponentially risen.
The US has recently started recruiting female corps within the Danab Special Forces, who are integrating well with their male counterparts. The program, which started four years ago, aims to expand the scope within which the Somalia military operates, giving women opportunities to participate in the ongoing war against al-Shabaab.
Brigadier General Peter Bailey, in charge of US Africa Command logistics, strategy, and plans, noted that there is an urgent need for the international community to train more soldiers in the country to Danab level. This would provide the country with any meaningful chances of defeating al-Shabaab bad boys.
With the multi-agency teams sustaining the war against al-Shabaab, the forces of Evil have reverted to retaliatory attacks across the country, including killing livestock, burning crops, and vandalizing water wells. The group is well financed and spends an annual budget of close to $150 million, according to the United Nations
...a lucrative dumping ground for the relatives of dictators and party hacks...
The US has come up with a quarterly report on civilian casualties, which updates on
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s waged by the US Africa Command. Previously, there were cases of civilian deaths leading to an outcry from members of the right groups and the general public, leading to a reduction in airstrikes.
Larry Andre, the Somali ambassador to the federal republic of Somalia, emphasized that "this war is not about Americans". He encouraged citizens to join the war, stating that al-Shabaab has been controlling central and southern Somalia, and the Somali soldiers are out full-blown to liberate their people and territory.
The government has been heavily relying on ATMIS troops, whose number is estimated at 20,000, and who are set to hand over security responsibilities to Somali forces by 2024. Local militia has significantly engineered the success against al-Shabaab. They must now be integrated into the military to help Somalia fight al-Shabaab effectively.
Souef Mohammed El-Amine, the representative of the AU commission in Somalia, noted that militia has heeded the calls by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who announced a "total war against al-Shabaab.