NAIROBI, Kenya- United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) Commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson has described Al-Shabaab as one of al-Qaeda’s most active and financially lucrative affiliates, warning that the militant group’s continued operations remain a major regional and global security concern.
Speaking on regional security challenges, Gen. Anderson said Al-Shabaab continues to generate significant revenue, with some of the funds flowing back to the wider al-Qaeda network.
“Al-Shabaab is affiliated with al-Qaeda. It is one of the group’s most active and lucrative affiliates. Some of the money it generates flows back to the wider al-Qaeda network, which remains a significant concern for us,” he said.
The US military commander noted that while military operations have intensified pressure on the Somalia-based militant group, defeating Al-Shabaab ultimately depends on Somalia’s own commitment to addressing the insurgency.
“We are seeing good pressure being put on Al-Shabaab but ultimately this issue is in Somalia, so we need Somalia’s commitment to address this as well,” Anderson added.
Regional instability remains a concern
Beyond Somalia, Gen. Anderson expressed concern over worsening instability across the Horn of Africa and the wider Great Lakes region, particularly the conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He said the ongoing war in Sudan cannot be resolved through military means alone, urging the country’s rival factions to pursue a political solution.
“We are very concerned about the stability of the region. I am very concerned about what’s happening in Sudan but unfortunately, I don’t see a military solution to that. It’s going to take the factions within Sudan wanting to break the cycle of violence,” he said.
He also identified the security situation in the DRC as another major challenge facing the region.
“DRC is also a great concern,” he said.
Kenya-US intelligence partnership
Gen. Anderson also underscored the importance of intelligence-sharing and military cooperation between the United States and its regional allies, particularly Kenya.
He said intelligence collaboration is not a one-sided arrangement, stressing that local intelligence provided by partner nations is vital in combating terrorism and other transnational security threats.
“There is intelligence sharing, but it is a two-way process. While we provide intelligence, local intelligence is equally important.”
The commander praised the longstanding partnership between the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the US military, noting that the two countries have conducted extensive joint training over the years.
“That is why our partnership with Kenya and other regional partners is so critical. Over the years, we have also conducted extensive training with the KDF.”
Kenya has remained one of the United States’ key security partners in East Africa, working closely with American forces on counterterrorism operations, intelligence-sharing and capacity-building initiatives aimed at containing threats posed by Al-Shabaab and other extremist groups.
Gen. Anderson’s remarks come as regional governments continue to strengthen security cooperation amid persistent militant attacks in Somalia and growing instability across parts of East and Central Africa.
