The U.S. military withdrew all of its troops from Baledogle Military Airfield in Somalia last month, ending a presence at the major installation that lasted more than a decade. American forces had used the airfield as part of the counterterrorism mission in the country.

The troops departed Baledogle for other locations inside Somalia, according to a military official familiar with the matter who confirmed the relocation to Task & Purpose. U.S. forces therefore remain in the country despite leaving the airfield.

The official also said American troops could return to Baledogle in the future. The departure does not necessarily mark a permanent end to U.S. military activity at the installation.

Horn Observer first reported the exit, citing multiple people familiar with the base. The airfield is located only a few dozen miles from Mogadishu, the Somali capital.

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U.S. Africa Command did not confirm the reports that troops had left Baledogle. Instead, a command spokesperson described the broader approach used to position American forces for counterterrorism missions.

The spokesperson said, “U.S. military is an agile, mobile force. U.S. Africa Command repositions its forces to optimize for counterterror operations. In the interest of maintaining operational security, we do not discuss details of ongoing operations.”

The number of troops assigned to Baledogle before the relocation remains unclear. The United States previously kept dozens of military personnel at the airfield to support operations conducted around the region.

Baledogle is roughly 60 miles southwest of Mogadishu and has been a focal point during the ongoing Somali civil war. Its location and repeated use by armed forces have placed the installation within years of fighting involving Somali, international, and militant forces.

The militant group al-Shabaab captured Baledogle in 2009. The organization used the installation as a training ground for its fighters for three years before African Union forces pushed the militants out.

U.S. troops began operating from Baledogle in 2012 and expanded their presence there during the following years. In addition to conducting counterterrorism missions, American military personnel trained Somali commandos at the airfield.

The installation also faced a major militant assault during the American presence. On Sept. 30, 2019, al-Shabaab forces attacked Baledogle with vehicle borne improvised explosive devices and small arms.

American and Somali troops stationed at the base fought the attackers for an hour. The defending forces eventually drove the militants back, preserving control of the installation.

The latest relocation comes amid several notable changes to U.S. military operations across Africa. Those shifts include the completion of combat missions against Islamic State militants in Nigeria and the movement of MQ-9 drones from Africa to Latin America.

Even with those changes, the U.S. military has continued its campaign against militants operating in Somalia. American forces launched four separate airstrikes against al-Shabaab fighters in October, according to U.S. Africa Command.

Those attacks are part of an expanded strike campaign that began after the start of the second Trump administration. The campaign has continued while American forces reposition within Somalia and other U.S. military assets move away from the African continent.

Earlier this year, the United States also began a multimillion dollar upgrade project at an air base in Kenya. The American military uses that installation to support operations across the Horn of Africa.

The exit from Baledogle consequently changes the location of U.S. troops without removing them from Somalia. With the possibility of a future return still open, the airfield could again host American forces as the counterterrorism mission continues.

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