US to deploy troops to Somalia, first time in over 20 years

The United States military on Friday confirmed that it will deploy troops to Somalia in the fight against insurgent group, Al-Shabaab.

This will be the first such deployment in over two decades. The last US troops in the Horn of Africa country left in 1993. The pullout was after two helicopters were shot down in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

According to the US Africa Command, the latest deployment will help to train the Somalia National Army (SNA). The about 40 troops are to be deployed from the 101st Airborne Division.

About 40 101st Airborne troops in Somalia for USAfricaCommand mission. Focus is training locals on logistics.

— john vandiver (john_vandiver) April 14, 2017

President Donald Trump recently approved an expanded military role in Somalia, a position that included carrying out more aggressive measures against the insurgents who hold parts of the country.

The new leader of the country, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo is a Somali-American who recently declared a war with the insurgents. He has called for the insurgents to come to the negotiation table or risk total defeat within a space of two years.