The Pentagon confirmed to the Toronto Star that there are five U.S. members of a “military co-ordination cell” that was deployed in October 2013.
“(T)he Defense Department maintains a small presence in Somalia primarily to co-ordinate U.S. efforts to counter the threat from Al Qaeda and Al Shabab with related efforts of the international community,” U.S. army Lt. Col. Myles B. Caggins III, wrote in an email to the Star.
Caggins said the State Department “co-ordinates” with the U.S.-funded civilian contractors in the country and acknowledged Danab’s existence when questioned about the new unit.
“The Danab company receives training on law of armed conflict and international humanitarian law, consistent with international standards,” Caggins wrote.
But along with training, Danab and the Alpha Group, which is known locally as “Gashan,” meaning “the Shield,” the U.S. also gets an important partnership with both Somalia’s army and intelligence wing.
For critics of the program this is seen as an incursion on Somalia’s sovereignty — establishing a two-tier system for the military and security groups. Others praise the co-operation and standards set by foreign forces.
There’s no doubt, the so-called Black Hawk Down era, where Western powers abandoned the war torn East African country following the 1993 deaths of 18 U.S. service members and downing of two Black Hawk helicopters, is long gone.