US asks Amisom troops to stay on in Somalia, pledges support
The first withdrawal of Amisom peacekeepers from Somalia which will be on a pro rata basis, will see each of the five countries reduce their troops by four per cent.
The UN directive for a phased withdrawal of African peacekeepers from Somalia next month has been opposed by the US, which believes the timing is not right given the terrorist threat in the Horn of Africa.
The US State Department has warned that extremism could escalate in the region if the withdrawal goes through, especially now that Al Shabaab has increased the number of suicide bombings such as the October 14 attack in Mogadishu that killed over 300.
