...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...
peacekeeping mission (AUSSOM), signaling a significant deterioration in its cooperation with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS).
Multiple sources familiar with the matter said that the decision follows low cooperation between Washington and Mogadishu over diverging views on security architecture and the management of counter-terrorism operations. This comes at a time when Somalia faces increasing political instability and persistent security threats from al-Shabaab
... al-Qaeda's tentacle in East Africa...
and ISIS-affiliated groups.
In contrast, the US appears to be strengthening its ties with the semi-autonomous Puntland
...a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998. Puntland and the equally autonomous Somaliland seem to have avoided the clan rivalries and warlordism that have typified the rest of Somalia, which puts both places high on the list for Islamic subversion...
State and Somaliland
...Republic of Somaliland is an unrecognised sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, recognised internationally as a de jure part of Somalia. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden with approximately 5.7 million residents as of 2021. The capital and largest city is Hargeisa. The government regards itself as the successor state to British Somaliland, which united from 1960 to 1991 with the Trust Territory of Somaliland (the former Italian Somaliland) to form the Somali Republic. Under the Siad Barre regime, Somaliadestroyed ninety percent of Hargeisa Per international law, once you're in, you gotta stay in, no matter how bad it smells...., both of which maintain relative stability and have shown a consistent commitment to fighting gunnies in their regions.
In Bosaso on Thursday, Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni hosted a farewell ceremony for Colonel ED Norris, outgoing commander of US Special Operations in East Africa. He also welcomed his successor, Colonel Benander, during a meeting that underscored the deepening security cooperation between the US and Puntland.
President Deni presented Colonel Norris with a traditional Somali gift in appreciation of the US government’s support in counter-terrorism operations in the rugged Cal Miskaad mountains. He expressed hope that Colonel Benander would continue to bolster Puntland-US collaboration, particularly in securing the region and dismantling holy warrior cells.
In his remarks, Colonel Norris praised the Puntland authorities for their unwavering resolve against terrorism. As a symbolic gesture, he handed over a US-fired missile shell used in a recent strike that eliminated holy warrior targets in the Alleelo-yar area of the Cal Miskaad range.
He also awarded medals of recognition to PMPF Director General Gen. Abdulrabi Abdusamad and other senior officers for their critical roles in joint operations during his tenure.
Washington’s pivot away from the federal government towards more localized actors like Puntland and Somaliland is expected to have wide-ranging implications for Somalia’s internal power dynamics and regional security.
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Danab forces: 2025-07-02 Danab Commandos, Conduct Major Offensive Against Al-Shabaab in Lower Juba region
Danab forces: 2025-06-30 Somali Commandos Kill 37 Al-Shabaab Militants in Joint Operation: Army
Danab forces: 2025-05-30 Somalia: U.S. Airstrike Targets Al-Shabaab Militants Near Kismayo