Mogadishu (WDN) – The commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, in an interview with journalist Omar Faruk, has delivered one of the clearest expressions yet of American frustration over Somalia’s counterterrorism campaign, lamenting that Somali and international forces have repeatedly been forced to recapture territory they had already liberated years ago.

His remarks underscore growing concerns within Washington that hard-won battlefield gains have too often been undermined by weak governance, inadequate stabilization efforts, and poor post-conflict planning—allowing Al-Shabaab to return to areas where it had previously been driven out.

General Anderson recalled that between 2019 and 2021, U.S. forces, the Somali National Army, and the elite Danab Special Forces achieved significant successes along the Shabelle River corridor, liberating a number of strategic communities, including Mubaarak. Yet those gains ultimately proved temporary.

According to Anderson, many of the same areas later fell back under Al-Shabaab control, forcing Somali forces and their international partners to launch fresh military operations this year to recapture territory that had already been secured at considerable human and financial cost.

His comments reflected more than military disappointment. They highlighted a recurring pattern that has plagued Somalia’s counterinsurgency campaign for years: battlefield victories followed by governance failures that create the conditions for Al-Shabaab’s return.

“The liberation of territory alone is not enough,” Anderson emphasized, arguing that once military operations conclude, the Somali government must rapidly establish functioning local administrations, provide justice, restore public services, and deploy security forces capable of protecting liberated communities.

Without those essential follow-up measures, he warned, military victories cannot endure. The AFRICOM commander’s remarks echo a long-standing concern among many international security analysts who argue that Al-Shabaab’s resilience stems not only from its military capabilities but also from the state’s inability to consolidate gains after successful offensives.

In numerous previously liberated areas, delayed government services, limited security presence, and administrative weaknesses have allowed the militant group to quietly rebuild its networks, intimidate local populations, and eventually regain control. The consequences have been costly.

Repeated withdrawals from liberated areas have enabled Al-Shabaab not only to re-establish its influence but, on several occasions in recent years, to seize large quantities of military equipment abandoned or captured from Somali security forces during poorly coordinated withdrawals and battlefield setbacks.

The loss of weapons, vehicles, ammunition, and other military equipment has strengthened the group’s operational capabilities while raising broader questions about planning, logistics, and force protection during Somali military operations.

General Anderson also issued a carefully worded warning regarding future American assistance. He said continued U.S. support would increasingly depend on measurable progress in Somalia’s campaign against Al-Shabaab and on the effective use of resources provided by international partners.

If counterterrorism resources are diverted from their intended purpose or fail to produce sustainable results, he suggested, it would become increasingly difficult for Washington to justify maintaining its current level of military support.

The comments reflect growing expectations among Somalia’s international partners that military operations must be accompanied by stronger governance, greater accountability, and effective stabilization policies if long-term security gains are to be achieved.

Despite expressing disappointment over the loss of previously liberated territory, Anderson praised the elite Danab Special Forces, describing them as among the best-trained military units on the African continent.

He noted that the United States has largely completed its primary mission of developing the force and stressed that responsibility now rests with the Somali government to adequately fund, sustain, equip, and further strengthen Danab’s operational capabilities.

His remarks come as Somali government forces and the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission continue military operations against Al-Shabaab across southern and central Somalia, supported by ongoing U.S. airstrikes targeting militant positions. The broader message from AFRICOM was unmistakable.

Military offensives alone cannot defeat Al-Shabaab. Lasting success depends on what follows after the fighting ends. Unless liberated areas are quickly stabilized through effective governance, reliable security, functioning public institutions, and sustained state presence, the sacrifices made on the battlefield risk being repeated—and Somalia’s international partners may become increasingly reluctant to continue investing in a cycle of liberation followed by renewed militant resurgence.

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