The U.S. defense force says in a position to deal with al-Shabaab over the Djibouti risk
NAIROBI, Kenya – The United States has promised to take the threats posed by Al-Shabaab seriously, adding that the security of its troops and allied forces in East Africa remains its top priority in line with its security arrangements.
The US Africa Command and the French troops based in Djibouti have been threatened by Al-Shabaab militants who issued a stern warning through its leader Ahmed Omar alias Abu Ubaydah over the weekend.
A spokesman, Colonel Christopher Karns, told VOA Somali that the US Africa Command is aware of the recent audio release from al-Shabab calling for attacks on US and French interests in Djibouti.
“The US Africa Command takes these statements seriously,” Karns said.
“Al-Shabab remains a persistent threat to US interests in East Africa. That is why it remains important to put continued pressure on the al-Shabab network and isolate the threat it poses to the region and beyond, ”he added.
In recently released audio, Ahmed Omar Abu Ubaidah accuses the leaders of Djibouti of turning the country into a military base “from which any war against Muslims in East Africa is planned.”
Abu Ubaidah specifically urged the youth of Djibouti to “carry out individual solitary wolf martyrdom operations” to expel the French and Americans. ”
“Make US and French interests in Djibouti the highest priority for your targets,” al-Shabab media reports.
Abu Ubaidah said his group was ready to offer “safe haven” and “prepare and train” those willing to migrate from Djibouti if they could not meet the “individual commitment to jihad.”
The United States has already withdrawn its troops from Somalia, the home base of the Al-Shabaab group, following a directive from the Pentagon. Most of the troops serving in Somalia were relocated to other parts of East Africa.
AXADLETM
