U.S. forces have reportedly withdrawn from the Baledogle military base in the Lower Shabelle region, a site that has long served as a key hub for intelligence operations and efforts to combat the Al-Shabaab group in Somalia.
According to the prominent newspaper *Stars and Stripes*, all U.S. troops have recently departed from the Baledogle military airfield, located approximately 96 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu. The base played a vital role in gathering intelligence and supporting the training of Somali forces.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has neither confirmed nor denied reports regarding the withdrawal. However, a spokesperson for the command stated that, for operational security reasons, they cannot provide details on ongoing movements, noting that forces are sometimes repositioned to locations better suited for conducting counter-terrorism operations.
It remains unknown how many troops left the base, or where—if anywhere—they have been relocated. However, this withdrawal represents a significant shift from U.S. plans last year, when the U.S. was investing in the construction of medical facilities and troop housing, as well as strengthening base security, with the intention of making Baledogle a long-term U.S. installation.
In 2019, Al-Shabaab launched a major attack on the base, which began with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) and was followed by nearly an hour of fighting between the attackers and U.S. and Somali forces.
The U.S. military presence in Somalia has undergone various changes. In late 2020, then-President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of approximately 700 U.S. troops from the country; however, in May 2022, his successor, President Joe Biden, redeployed hundreds of troops to bolster cooperation with Somali forces and support operations against Al-Shabaab.
