Nairobi (Somalistandard) – The United States House has rejected a vote that would order the U.S troops from Somalia.
After the vote by the he House’s , the Africa Command has asked Congress for $1.2 billion in funding to establish a “persistent presence” in Somalia and other African countries where extremist groups operate.
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In a statement released after the vote, Africa Command said it “appreciates Congress’ support for the continued U.S. military presence in Somalia and looks forward to working with our partners to create conditions for long-term stability and security in the region.”
The Pentagon has argued that a U.S. presence in Somalia is crucial to keeping al-Shabaab at bay and preventing the country from becoming a safe haven for terrorist organizations.
Opponents of the continued U.S. presence, however, argue that it only exacerbates the conflict and contributes to civilian casualties.
However,, Thursday’s vote suggests that the House is not yet ready to withdraw U.S. troops from Somalia.
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