The United States Reveals Reason for Withdrawal from Ballidoogle

Muqdisho (Caasimada Online) – The U.S. military confirmed on Tuesday that its forces have withdrawn from the Ballidoogle base in the Lower Shabelle region, after the condition of the runway used by aircraft deteriorated.

General John Brennan, who is the deputy commander of AFRICOM, the U.S. military command for Africa, stated that most of the military personnel operating at the base have relocated to Mogadishu. He mentioned that repairing the runway at the airport would cost tens of millions of dollars.

“The runway used by aircraft at the airport had been deteriorating to the point that it became dangerous for planes to land there,” Brennan said during a press conference he held online with reporters. He described the withdrawal from Ballidoogle as “a decision based one hundred percent on economic factors.”

Brennan stated that the U.S. will continue to support the Somali forces in their fight against Al-Shabaab.

This news first emerged on October 28. Last week, the AFRICOM command refrained from confirming the report, citing operational security, as reported by Somalia Today .

Danab Training

Ballidoogle is located approximately 100 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu. The U.S. forces used the base for intelligence gathering and training Danab, which is a special forces unit of the Somali National Army.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre participated in the graduation ceremony of the 12th batch of Danab on September 28 in Ballidoogle. This batch was trained at the Commandos Academy of Colonel Hassan Ture in combat tactics and medical assistance in combat zones.

Hamza thanked the United States for its support to Danab. He stated that his government aims to build a military capable of fully taking over the responsibility for the country's security, as stated in a statement from his office .

Sources speaking to Caasimada Online reported that the Danab commandos captured individuals suspected of being members of Al-Shabaab in the Goobanle area, which is located between the Lower Shabelle and Bay regions.

In May 2025, the U.S. military stated that its engineers built a medical facility in Ballidoogle and were also working on additional housing and enhancing security. The unit overseeing the operation described the facility as part of an effort to make Ballidoogle a long-term base, as stated in a report from the U.S. military .

In 2018, the U.S. Navy awarded a contract worth 12.3 million dollars for urgent repairs. This work included the restoration of damaged areas and the re-paving of roads, according to a report released by the naval forces .

A U.S. military official familiar with the matter mentioned last week the possibility of troops returning to Ballidoogle, as reported by Task & Purpose .

Ongoing Airstrikes

The United States military conducted an airstrike against Al-Shabaab on November 5 near Jamaame, northeast of the port city of Kismayo. The operation was carried out in coordination with the Somali government, according to AFRICOM .

In October, the U.S. targeted the group with four airstrikes. One of them occurred near Janaale in Lower Shabelle, as stated in AFRICOM's report .

Al-Shabaab, which has ties to Al-Qaeda, has been waging war against the Somali government for nearly twenty years, seeking to overthrow it. The group has captured more territory and continues to carry out bombings and ambush attacks in central and southern Somalia, according to a report from the UN Security Council.

In 2022, Joe Biden, who was then the President of the United States, approved the return of a small number of troops to Somalia. Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of most U.S. forces from the country at the end of his first term.

The Pentagon at that time stated that the system under which troops were temporarily coming from outside the country had strengthened cooperation between the two nations' forces, according to a report published by the U.S. Department of Defense .

Uganda began withdrawing troops it had deployed to Somalia under a bilateral agreement earlier this month, as reported by Somalia Today .

The African Union peacekeeping operation is planning to take over four bases that the forces had around Mogadishu, according to a letter obtained by the Associated Press .

Discussions in Mozambique

Brennan also urged Mozambique to host additional exercises led by the U.S. military. He requested the removal of administrative obstacles that have hindered training for U.S. special forces.

Brennan met with the President of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo, in Maputo on November 5. Ensuring the security of gas facilities in the northern region of Cabo Delgado was among the priorities of the visit, according to a report released by AFRICOM .

Brennan warned that the ISIS affiliate in Mozambique has gained increased capability to operate from the sea, citing recent piracy incidents as an example. He stated that strengthening military cooperation could provide energy companies like ExxonMobil with additional confidence in the security of their investments.