MOGADISHU, Somalia – Air Force Lieutenant General Dagvin Anderson has been appointed commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) at a critical moment for American policy on the continent, particularly in Somalia, where the security environment is rapidly deteriorating.

President Donald Trump, who confirmed AFRICOM’s continued status as an independent command on June 4, also promoted Anderson to full four-star general—a requirement for all regional combatant commanders.

However, while AFRICOM’s status is secure, its resources and scope are being tested, especially in Somalia, where U.S. policy is shifting away from long-term stabilization.

Cuts leave Somalia exposed

One of General Anderson’s first challenges will be confronting the fallout from Trump’s decision to eliminate all U.S. funding for international peacekeeping operations in FY2026.

The move effectively ends American financial support for the African Union Stabilization Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM)—the planned successor to ATMIS, the African Union’s outgoing peacekeeping mission.

AUSSOM was expected to deploy nearly 12,000 personnel—including military, police, and civilian staff—from Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Egypt. However, without U.S. backing, its deployment is now in jeopardy.

While Ethiopia and Egypt may maintain some involvement due to competing strategic interests in Somalia, they are unlikely to commit without guaranteed funding.

Although Turkey is expected to continue its extensive military training program in Somalia, its support serves its national agenda and cannot fill the broader stabilization vacuum.

Without international backing, the Somali National Army, already stretched thin and widely viewed as undertrained and under-resourced, will struggle to contain the resurgence of al-Shabaab and other jihadist factions. Analysts warn that territory previously cleared by AU forces could fall back into militant hands.

Anderson’s strategic dilemma

While AFRICOM retains capabilities for conducting airstrikes and providing tactical training to Somali units, the absence of a peacekeeping framework fundamentally undermines long-term stability efforts.

General Anderson must now navigate a rapidly shifting strategy—one in which the U.S. appears increasingly reliant on drones and remote operations while scaling down diplomatic and on-the-ground support.

The Trump administration’s policy trajectory signals a possible pivot toward a more militarized and transactional approach to Africa, with fewer political conditions and reduced focus on governance or development. This leaves AFRICOM with a narrower toolkit to manage evolving threats in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

If the security situation continues to deteriorate, Trump may be forced to choose between two risky paths: complete disengagement, which would almost certainly embolden al-Shabaab and allow jihadist networks to expand into Kenya and Ethiopia—or a significant military escalation involving greater drone operations, carrier-based airpower, extended support to Somali forces, and possibly the deployment of U.S. ground troops.

Regional ramifications

The situation in Somalia is emblematic of broader challenges facing AFRICOM across the continent. In the Sahel, General Anderson will also confront the fallout from the expulsion of U.S. troops from Niger in 2024, which ended critical drone reconnaissance operations.

Washington’s efforts to relocate those capabilities to coastal West Africa have failed, with countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Togo reportedly unwilling to host new bases.

At the same time, President Trump has shown little concern about the growing presence of Russian mercenaries and the Africa Corps in the Sahel despite their destabilizing influence. Instead, the administration is reportedly considering waiving Section 7008 restrictions that currently limit military cooperation with coup-installed regimes.

This would allow AFRICOM to resume operations in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—even if it means collaborating with authoritarian governments aligned with Moscow.

Critics warn that this approach risks drawing the U.S. into new “forever wars” across the continent while abandoning the development and diplomatic tools that once supported long-term stability.

Marine General Michael Langley, AFRICOM’s outgoing commander, has cautioned against doubling down on a purely military response. “Now is not the time to double down on a militarized policy that has already failed,” Langley said earlier this year, urging a balanced approach that includes soft power.

Yet, with U.S. civilian agencies like USAID significantly scaled back and AFRICOM increasingly isolated as the face of U.S. engagement, General Anderson will likely manage complex threats with limited options.