by Dave DeCamp

The strike marks at least the 40th time the US has bombed Somalia this year.

US Africa Command has announced that its forces launched an airstrike in Somalia on June 16 as the Trump administration continues to bomb the country at a record pace.

AFRICOM offered no details about the strike, only saying that it was launched near Bullo Xajji, a town in southern Somalia, and that it targeted al-Shabaab. “Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security,” the command said.

Al-Shabaab has been on the offensive in southern and central Somalia against the US-backed Federal Government, which is based in Mogadishu but controls little territory in the country. Al-Shabaab has made significant gains in recent months, putting pressure on the fracturing government.

There have been growing calls for the government to engage diplomatically with al-Shabaab. Last month, Ben Saul, the UN Special Rapporteur for human rights and counter-terrorism, visited Somalia and stated that he believed the government couldn’t defeat al-Shabaab.

But the US has doubled down on its policy of propping up a weak federal government and supporting it with airstrikes. The US has also been launching a significant number of airstrikes against an ISIS affiliate in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland region, where the US is backing local forces who are fighting on the ground.

Major Natural Resources of Somalia:

1. Oil and Natural Gas

Somalia has untapped petroleum reserves, both onshore and offshore. Offshore blocks along the Indian Ocean coast, particularly near Puntland and in southern Somalia, are believed to hold significant oil and gas potential.

Exploration has been hindered by political instability, but international companies (e.g., Shell, ExxonMobil, Coastline Exploration) have shown interest.

2. Minerals

Somalia has several mineral deposits, though few are currently being mined commercially:

Uranium – Large deposits discovered in the 1980s.

Iron ore

Tin and copper

Gypsum

Bauxite

Salt – Especially in coastal regions. 3. Marine Resources

Somalia has one of Africa’s longest coastlines (~3,300 km), rich in fish stocks:

Tuna, lobster, shark, and other commercial species.

Over fishing by foreign fleets has been a major issue.

4. Agricultural and Pastoral Land

Rich pastoral resources — Somalia is a leading exporter of livestock (camels, goats, sheep).

Arable land is underused but suitable for sorghum, maize, banana, sesame, and sugarcane cultivation.

5. Charcoal and Forest Resources

Widely used domestically, but the export of charcoal is restricted by international sanctions due to its link to funding militant groups like Al-Shabaab.