WASHINGTON, United States – The US Senate has confirmed General Dagvin Anderson as the new commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), marking the first time an Air Force officer will lead the military command since its creation in 2007.
In remarks following his confirmation, Gen. Anderson said he would reassess whether AFRICOM’s engagement in Somalia should prioritize the Federal Government or the country’s federal member states.
While affirming that US counter-terrorism support in Somalia would continue, Anderson indicated that the nature of that support could shift. “Al-Shabaab remains a threat to US interests and regional stability,” he told lawmakers. “Our presence has yielded some success in training, but the region remains volatile.”
The incoming AFRICOM chief also warned of increasing cooperation between Al-Shabaab and Yemen’s Houthi rebels — a development he said could pose a growing threat to international shipping routes in the Red Sea. “The Houthis, backed by Iran, may provide both the will and the means for Al-Shabaab to launch more capable attacks,” he added.
Last week, AFRICOM confirmed it had conducted an airstrike against Al-Shabaab targets in the Bariire area of southern Somalia. The US continues to back Somali-led efforts to combat extremist groups and promote stability, both at the federal and regional levels.
The shift in AFRICOM leadership comes amid reports of changes in US military assistance to Somalia. Earlier this year, Somalia’s finance minister claimed that Washington had halted support to the elite Danab commando unit.
However, the US embassy in Mogadishu later dismissed those claims, saying assistance to both Danab and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS successor AUSSOM) remains in place.
