US troops leave Somalia's Baledogle airfield
Runway repair costs of tens of millions of dollars prompted the US Africa Command to withdraw personnel.
United States troops have withdrawn from Baledogle Military Airfield in southern Somalia due to the deteriorating condition of the runway, which had become unsafe for aircraft. Army Lieutenant General John Brennan, deputy commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), stated that the decision was purely economic, with most personnel relocated to Mogadishu. Resurfacing the runway would have cost tens of millions of dollars, Brennan told reporters.
Baledogle, located about 90-100 kilometres northwest of Mogadishu in the Lower Shabelle region, has served as a major hub for US counter-terrorism operations and training of Somalia’s Danab special forces since around 2012. The base experienced a large Al-Shabaab assault in September 2019. Despite risks, the US Navy awarded a contract of over $12 million for emergency runway repairs in 2018, and a new medical facility was announced in May 2025.
AFRICOM stated that the departure does not signify a reduction in American support for Somali security forces fighting Al-Shabaab, with US airstrikes continuing. Officials indicated a possible return to the airfield if conditions change, though no firm plans exist. Ugandan and Somali forces reportedly remain at the site. The US previously ordered nearly 700 personnel out in late 2020, with hundreds returning in 2022.
Why it mattersUS troops have withdrawn from Baledogle Military Airfield, a strategic hub for counter-terrorism operations, due to runway repair costs exceeding tens of millions of dollars.