Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Somalis Worry About Potential US Troop Withdrawal From Their Fragile Country

Mohamed Olad Hassan

   WASHINGTON - Lawmakers and military officials in Somalia say the
   withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country, as reportedly proposed by
   President Donald Trump, would be disastrous and could embolden
   al-Shabab and other terrorist groups.
   The secretary of Somalia's Upper House Committee on defense, Senator
   Ahmd Hashi, said the proposal equates to the "United States under Trump
   turning its back on Somalis at a critical time."
   "As the country is heading to elections and terrorists' threat remains
   strong, it's the most critical time we need the support of the United
   States," Hashi told VOA's Somali service. "For Somalia, a U.S. troop
   withdrawal means a setback and moral boost for terrorists."
   Somalia's parliamentary elections are scheduled for late December, with
   the presidential election tentatively scheduled for February.
   The New York Times reported this week that Trump is planning to
   withdraw nearly all of the 700 U.S. military personnel conducting
   training and counterterrorism missions in Somalia. The report said
   Trump also plans to order sharp troop reductions in Afghanistan and
   Iraq.
   Hashi, who is also a former senior Somali military official, said
   withdrawing troops from Somalia would be "a terrible blow to the Somali
   Army."
   "They have been supporting the military operations and logistics of our
   elite commando forces, especially the Danab unit. Under their support,
   this unit has been building up and getting stronger day after day, but
   now, if they miss this significant support, it means a reverse and
   waste of all the efforts the United States has put into the rebuilding
   of the Somali National Army," he said.
   "We have received the news about the order of the withdrawal of our
   partner troops, but I do not know if it was the final and will be
   coming soon," a Somali military official said on the condition of
   anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media about
   this matter.
   "What I know is that such decision would be a dangerous setback to our
   gains in the fight against terrorism and relief for terrorists," the
   official said.

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