US explains navy ship in East African coast

US | NAVY SHIP | EAST AFRICA

KAMPALA - The US Mission in Uganda has explained the presence of the American navy ship in Mombasa, Kenya, noting that combating terrorism within the East African region and the Horn of Africa is one of the reasons why US has deployed its navy for the first time in over a decade.

On February 8, the American Hershel docked at Mombasa. The arrival of this US navy ship has since prompted many questions in as far as the US-East African Community (EAC) military relations are concerned.

Deployment of the ship under the direct command of Capt. Michael Concannon also comes at a time when the former US President, Donald Trump, recently announced a complete drawdown of boots from Somalia, where US troops have been working closely with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to combat terrorism—orchestrated by al-Shabaab.

From the outlook of things, some security experts believe that this deployment is laced with a political re-incarnation of USEAC military relations.

“USS Hershel “Woody” Williams is currently deployed to the eastern coast of Africa to demonstrate the growth in strategic partnerships and US commitment to African countries through interoperability training, maritime security, and safety to allow for freedom of navigation in the region.

The ship’s rotational crew swap allows unlimited operations in the Africa area of responsibility,” a statement issued by the US Mission in Kenya noted.   

“Kenya is a close US strategic partner in Africa,” Capt. Michael Concannon, the commanding officer, USS Hershel “Woody” Williams said.

“Our visit to Mombasa confirms our resolve and commitment to the preservation of security and stability in Kenya and Africa,” he added.

Commenting on the presence of the navy ship, Eric Kneedler, the Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Nairobi, said: “We are grateful for our close military cooperation."

Yet according to some experts on regional politics, the deployment of the navy ship on the East African Community sea area in Mombasa points to a wider plan and US policy in Somalia to combat terrorism and instability in the region.

The enhancement of the East African Response Force where US contributes support troops is the other reason that security experts say could explain the US navy interests within the EAC bloc, a conglomeration of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.

Although it is not the first time for US to pull out troops from Somalia, the recent Trump drawback, experts argue, means that the US is looking at an alternative mechanism of patrolling the emergence of terrorism within the region without necessarily deploying troops in Somalia.

Yet according to the spokesperson of the US Embassy in Kampala, Tony Kujawa, the presence of troops in Somalia is not the only way of ensuring peace and stability in the region.

“The US in pursuing a comprehensive approach to ensure sustainable gains understanding that instability and a lack of adequate governance cannot be addressed by military means alone,” he said.

“Addressing terrorist violence and broader instability and supporting Somali governance has continued across multiple administrations.

The US will engage the Somalis, regional and other partners, UN and AU interlocutors and other stakeholders on a path forward for Somalia that brings stability and security,” he said.

In 1993, US pulled out its troops in Somalia after 18 American soldiers were killed. However, over the years, the US has rendered support to peace efforts in EAC and the Horn of Africa, including funding activities of AMISOM where Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia and Djibouti contribute troops to fight al Shabaab.

The US also provides military assistance to armies of the EAC member states. In 2019 when the US assistant secretary of State for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy visited Uganda, he called for dialogue among EAC member states, especially Rwanda and Uganda, saying President Yoweri Museveni and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, are long-time friends of US.

Nagy, who also held bilateral talks with Museveni, said during his Kampala tour that Uganda has tremendous potential for business investments from America.

He also spoke about Somalia, pledging US support for peace efforts and quest for total peace in the country and the region.