By Nuh Mohamed - Reporter
MOGADISHU (Dawan Africa) – July 31, 2026 – The commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin Anderson, has said the United States has completed building Somalia’s Danab commando force, with responsibility for sustaining the elite unit now resting with Somalia.
In an interview published by the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu on Friday, Anderson said years of U.S. investment had produced a combat-ready counterterrorism force that is prepared for operations.
Anderson, who previously served in Somalia and helped build the force, described Danab as one of the most capable military units on the continent.
“We, 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. And we have completed that; we have built that force, and it is here and it’s ready to be used for counterterrorism,” Anderson said.
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He said responsibility for the force’s future now belongs to Somalia.
“But now it’s up to Somalia to sustain that force, to continue that force to build it, and continue to make it effective going into the future and use it as it was designed: to counter terrorism,” he said.
Anderson said the future of the force depends on Somalia’s ability to sustain and further develop it for counterterrorism operations.