By Abukar Osman - Reporter
“We Have Not Turned Our Backs on Somalia”
General Anderson on the US-Somalia Partnership
Interview by Omar Faruk Osman, Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Mogadishu
General Anderson, the senior US military commander overseeing operations in Somalia, sat down in Mogadishu with Omar Faruk Osman, Secretary General of NUSOJ, for a wide-ranging discussion on the security situation in Somalia, the future of the US-Somalia partnership, and the sensitive questions many Somalis are asking about Washington's long-term commitment to the country.
Omar Faruk Osman: General Anderson, welcome back to Mogadishu.
General Anderson: Thank you.
Omar Faruk Osman: We are very happy to have you, because we wanted to have a discussion which is very important — especially the US-Somalia partnership, the security situation in Somalia, and a lot of important questions that are on the mind of many Somalis today. I'll start with the first question: As a top military person for the US in Somalia, what is your assessment of the security situation in Somalia and in the wider region of the Horn of Africa?
General Anderson: It's a very interesting topic because we have seen some limited success in places in Somalia. We have seen Al-Shabaab pushed back away from Mogadishu. But we've also seen that Al-Shabaab is very resilient and continues to exist. We've also seen some limited success in the Golis Mountains with ISIS, where we have been able to work with the local forces there and keep them isolated in the caves.
The broader region has a lot of turbulence. Sudan is a tragedy, and there's no military solution to that — it's going to take the people of Sudan to decide to stop fighting, and external actors to actually assist them coming together. So there are a lot of issues within the region that could create instability.
The key is continuing to build on the progress that's been made, to continue to focus on the fight against the terrorists, so that there can be stability, there can be investment, and that will lead to prosperity. Security and prosperity are intertwined.
Omar Faruk Osman: You have now described the security landscape in the region, which is having an impact as well on Somalia and the entire region. But how do you see, as a top US military officer, the importance of Somalia for the US strategy in the region and the entire continent?
General Anderson: Somalia sits on key terrain. The Horn of Africa is critically important to the commerce of the world — the waterways to the north, the entrance to much of East Africa is Somalia. That alone makes it important.
Stability here is equally important. We saw what happened when there was instability in Somalia previously: piracy that impacted international commerce, and human tragedy that created migration and displaced persons who went to other countries. All of that creates instability, and that doesn't allow the development, growth, and prosperity that the people of Somalia deserve.
That creates, across multiple nations, stability in the Horn, which leads to prosperity for all. For us, it's important to continue to help Somalia move that way, but ultimately it's got to be Somalia that takes care of Somalia — it's the Somali leadership and people who need to build that security and prosperity.
Omar Faruk Osman: There have been discussions recently about the US-Somalia partnership on different phases and different areas, and there are a lot of speculations saying that the US is pulling out of Somalia. Is that true? Because many Somalis legitimately have concerns that the US is turning its back to them.
General Anderson: I would say the United States has not turned its back on Somalia. We've been committed here for several years, and we have engaged very constructively. The United States — and I was part of this previously when I was here — helped build the Danab, one of the most capable forces on the continent. I am very proud of our engagement building that counterterrorism force. We have completed that; we have built that force, and it is here and ready to be used for counterterrorism.
But now it's up to Somalia to sustain that force, to continue to build it and make it effective going into the future, and use it as it was designed: to counter terrorism.
So I don't think we are turning our backs on Somalia. But there are people in Washington and other parts of the country who say, “We've been here for several years — at what point does Somalia become independent and take care of these issues?” Some people are weary of this because we've been dealing with terrorism in other parts of the world for many years, and there are many other security issues around the world that the US is involved in and has to pay attention to.
So people are asking: when is Somalia going to take charge of this, and when can we turn it over to them? I don't think we've turned our backs on Somalia by any means. If the government steps up and takes the lead, we will continue to be there, because there is mutual interest. But if the political instability and infighting continues, it's going to be very hard for us to continue staying engaged.
Omar Faruk Osman: You spoke about sustainability, and about the commitments you have in other parts of the world — there are conflicts in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East. How are the resources that have been allocated for Africa, or that AFRICOM has been receiving, being affected by competing priorities from other conflicts?
General Anderson: You're right, there are many other pressures on these resources, and we have looked at where they might be applied in other theaters for other issues. The reason we have been able to maintain these resources here in AFRICOM is that they've continued to be used fighting terrorism — focused on ISIS in the north, and together with our partners on Al-Shabaab.
As long as we can continue to show progress against the mutual threat — that is Al-Qaeda, that is ISIS — then I can justify those resources and continue to use them. But if those resources are used elsewhere for other things and not for the terrorist fight, I will have a hard time justifying keeping them here given so many other demands.
I believe in this mission, and I believe in standing here with you to counter terrorism, but we have to see that progress.
Omar Faruk Osman: When it comes to progress, it's not only the military side — it's also about politics, governance, and how the country is run domestically. We know political dysfunction has a bearing on insecurity, giving terror groups breathing space to continue their operations. Don't you think so?
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General Anderson: Yes, and you bring up some really good points. I was here active with Special Operations Command from 2019 to 2021. We worked with the Somali National Army and the Danab to move down the Lower Shabelle River, making progress all the way down to Mubarak.
I come back to AFRICOM as the commander, and we're retaking the same territory again.
This is what causes the frustration — that territory was lost because somewhere the focus on terrorism was not there and was elsewhere. Being able to take that territory is part of security. But then you have to be able to hold the territory, bring governance, bring justice, and bring the stability necessary to allow prosperity to take place.
All of that goes hand-in-hand. From the military, we help with the security piece. We need Somalia to bring the governance. We need Somalia to create the stability to allow the prosperity. And if that is the case, the United States is very interested in investing — we have one of the world's greatest economies, and we are willing to partner and invest where there is stability and prosperity.
We can help build the security, but ultimately it has to be the host nation, the partner, that creates that independence. That then opens the door to other partnership and economic growth.
Omar Faruk Osman: Political stability is very key when Somalis get their acts together and address critical issues. There is another important question: US operations have different areas of intervention across the country, and US support to Somalia includes airstrikes. What about the reports of civilians being killed or injured in those operations?
General Anderson: We take this very seriously. We put great effort into our intelligence, our targeting, and our understanding to avoid harm to civilians. I don't think there's any nation in the world that puts more resources into mitigating civilian harm and civilian casualties than we do.
Any credible instance, we will investigate. There have been times when we have made mistakes, and we have provided reparations. But we also understand that we are taking great care to help another nation — and where are the civilian casualties really coming from here? How many civilian casualties has Al-Shabaab created, or ISIS? It's thousands.
Those are the ones we need to look at — not just who they've killed, but the future they have stopped from developing. I understand the concern, and I understand that airstrikes get attention in the news, but I can assure you that US forces take this very seriously.
Omar Faruk Osman: Have there been cases where AFRICOM has investigated such allegations, and there has been accountability?
General Anderson: Yes, as I've mentioned, we have done that, and we do that when there's a credible case. But also understand that Al-Shabaab is very willing to make false accusations, and they do this almost every single time. So we do investigate, but we make sure it is credible.
Omar Faruk Osman: I'd like to ask about Somaliland. You and other AFRICOM officials have visited Somaliland several times. Does the US have a plan to build a base there?
General Anderson: There is no plan to build a base in Somaliland.
Omar Faruk Osman: Does the US recognize Somaliland? This is one of the questions many Somalis are asking themselves.
General Anderson: US policy is, and remains, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia. That has not changed.
Omar Faruk Osman: General Anderson, you are being watched by millions of Somalis inside Somalia and outside the country. What is your message to them, as top commander of the US for Africa visiting Mogadishu?
General Anderson: My message is: We are committed to helping nations become more prosperous and secure. But we need a willing partner that is willing to focus on our mutual interest.
The people of Somalia deserve prosperity and stability; they deserve that security. But I can only bring a piece of it. It has to be with the leadership of the Government of Somalia. When we can do that, and focus on the common threat, we can work together and create that prosperity.
Ultimately, it has to be the people of Somalia who want it, and the Government of Somalia who wants it — and then they can provide that. The United States has, and will continue to, help those who are willing to help themselves.
Omar Faruk Osman: General Anderson, thank you very much for joining us, and we appreciate the opportunity to talk to you and give this message to the people of Somalia.
General Anderson: I very much appreciate it, and I appreciate the opportunity to talk with you. I have been committed here for several years, and it is important to me personally. But ultimately, we have to do what's right for each of our nations, and I want to see success for both.
Omar Faruk Osman: Thank you.
General Anderson: Thank you. Appreciate it.