MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has openly acknowledged his government’s growing fatigue after two and a half years of relentless combat against Al-Shabaab, urging the United States to expand its military presence in the country as concerns mount over a potential full withdrawal of American forces under the new Trump administration.
In an exclusive interview with The Washington Post, President Mohamud admitted the challenges faced by his administration, stating, “It’s difficult because we have a limited capability. After two years of continuous war, we have some level of fatigue. But we are reorganizing our forces now, and there is a new campaign going on as I speak to you.”
While reflecting on his 2022 pledge to defeat Al-Shabaab, Mohamud conceded that while his government has significantly degraded the militant group, the promise of its complete eradication remains unfulfilled. This admission comes amid mounting warnings from observers that Al-Shabaab is not only regaining resilience but also strengthening its operational capacity.
The Somali leader’s appeal for increased U.S. support coincides with speculation that President Donald Trump may reinstate his 2020 order to withdraw all American troops from Somalia. Mohamud has called on Washington to instead bolster its military footprint in the Horn of Africa nation, emphasizing the need for enhanced training, advisory support, and special operations to counter Al-Shabaab’s growing threat.
“What we ask of President Trump is not to pull out the American advisers and consultants who are supporting the training of our special forces. Indeed, we are requesting that the United States increase the number so that we can eliminate al-Shabab while President Trump is in office,” Mohamud said.
The president underscored the global implications of Al-Shabaab’s activities, highlighting the group’s ties to Al-Qaeda, its international agenda, and its threat to critical shipping lanes. He also pointed to the militant group’s strategic alliance with Yemen’s Houthi rebels, noting, “Al-Shabab and the Houthis have a very good relationship. They are exchanging weapons and training.”
Mohamud’s remarks come at a precarious moment for Somalia, as authorities grow increasingly anxious over the new U.S. administration’s plans to slash foreign aid. Such cuts could jeopardize funding for the elite Danab forces, whose training, stipends, and operational capabilities are heavily reliant on American support. Additionally, critical state projects, humanitarian aid, and weapons supplies—all financed by U.S. assistance—face an uncertain future under Trump’s proposed policies.
Compounding these fears is the potential withdrawal of U.S. troops, which Somali officials warn could create a security vacuum, allowing Al-Shabaab to intensify its operations and reclaim territories lost during more than a decade of conflict with African Union peacekeepers and Somali national forces.
