On May 15, President Biden approved the redeployment of American troops in Somalia. Biden’s decision, based on US Defense Secretary Llyod Austin’s request, will deploy “fewer than 500 American troops” (Reuters) that will not engage in combat. This redeployment was initiated to strengthen the front against Al-Shabab. 

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre states, “The President has approved a request from the secretary of defense to reestablish a persistent US military presence in Somalia to enable a more effective fight against al Shabab, which has increased in strength and proposed poses a heightened threat.” 

American intervention in the Global South has repeatedly harmed the region and its people. While some Somalis support US intervention in the region, the deployment of troops and airstrikes is not an adequate response to Al-Shabab. In 2021, the Biden administration conducted multiple strikes that resulted in the deaths of civilians and the destruction of the country. Amnesty International states, “Civilian casualties continue to mount from the US military’s secret air war in Somalia, with no justice or reparation for the victims of possible violations of international humanitarian law.” The redeployment of American troops will result in the loss of life. A sustainable solution that does not jeopardize or risk the lives of civilians is imperative. Somali civilians must be guaranteed equitable living standards and political freedom, addressing the root causes of the conflict in the region. 

The US’s involvement in Somalia’s affairs dates back to 1992, following the eruption of the Somali Civil War. To counter Al-Shabab, a terrorist group linked to Al-Qaeda, the United States launched numerous airstrikes, further radicalizing the group. In February 2020, two civilians were killed, and three were injured due to these U.S.-backed airstrikes. A family of five was struck, killing an 18-year-old and injuring her two younger sisters, aged 12 and 7, and her grandmother, aged 70. The girls’ father tells Amnesty International, “I never imagined it was going to hit us. I suddenly heard a huge sound. It felt like our house had collapsed… the sand, and the smoke filled my eyes.” During another strike in the same month, a 53-year-old farmer was killed, leaving behind his wife and eight children. These casualties were caused by only two strikes, but the United States has continued to fund numerous strikes since 1992 that have stolen countless other lives. Somali civilians have yet to receive reparations or justice for these tragedies. 

The voices of Somali civilians must be centered in this struggle against terrorism. The actions of the United States will ultimately affect the livelihoods of the people. Too often, the United States has declared itself the moral standard while bombing and murdering black and brown people in the Global South. The United States must take accountability for its actions and cease all intervention in our countries. A fight against terrorism is meaningless when the United States is the terrorist in the eyes of civilians who have been robbed of everything.