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Somalia Suspends Commando Unit Over Stolen US Donations
In a move to address corruption, Somalia government has suspended and detained several members of the elite Danab commando unit for stealing rations donated by the United States.
The government has taken over responsibility for provisioning the force, which is a key player in the fight against al Qaeda-linked militant group al Shabaab, Reuters reported.
Background
The Danab unit, established in 2017, is a 3,000-strong quick reaction strike force trained and equipped by the United States.
The US has agreed to spend over $100 million to build up to five military bases for the unit.
However, the latest incident is not the first time the unit has faced allegations of corruption.
In 2017, the US suspended some defense assistance to Somalia after the military failed to account for food and fuel.
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Current Situation
The Somali military, along with allied clan militias, launched an offensive against al Shabaab in 2022, initially succeeding in retaking territory in central Somalia.
However, the campaign has lost momentum, with government-allied forces struggling to hold rural areas and al Shabaab continuing to stage large-scale attacks, including in the capital Mogadishu.
US Response
A US official stated that Washington takes all accusations of corruption seriously and looks forward to working with the Danab to establish necessary safeguards and accountability measures to prevent future incidents.
However, it remains unclear whether US support has been suspended.
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Ongoing Efforts
The US continues to conduct frequent drone strikes targeting al Shabaab militants.
The incident highlights the challenges of building a stable and accountable security force in Somalia, a country struggling to overcome decades of conflict and instability.
Latest Developments
The Somali defense ministry has notified international partners of the theft and is investigating the incident.
The outcome of the investigation will be shared with partners, and measures will be taken to prevent future incidents.
