Wednesday May 7, 2025
U.S. Army Sgt. Liam Harris, a Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa engineer, measures a board for a new aid station at Baledogle airfield in Somalia on April 25, 2025. (Micheala Maldonado/U.S. Army)
Mogadishu (HOL) — The United States is reinforcing Baledogle Military Airfield in southern Somalia, expanding infrastructure and security at one of its most strategic bases in Africa, in a move that underscores its continued commitment to countering al-Shabab militants.
New medical and housing facilities are part of the upgrades to make the airfield a long-term staging ground for American and Somali joint operations, according to a statement from U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). The airfield's expansion follows ongoing fighting between Somali forces and the al-Qaida-linked group al-Shabab.
The Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa confirmed that the new aid station will provide "lifesaving care without delay," reducing reliance on medical evacuation in emergencies. Other enhancements include fortified perimeter defences and housing designed to improve safety and living standards for deployed troops.
The work helps develop Baledogle "as an enduring location," the task force statement said.
Engineers from the New York National Guard's 152nd Engineer Support Company have led much of the construction effort. "Any time there is an operation, troops need a place to sleep, to eat, to have security—and that's what we provide," said one sergeant, describing their mission as foundational to troop support.
Located about 100 kilometres northwest of Mogadishu in the Lower Shabelle region, Baledogle has been central to U.S. counterterrorism strategy in Somalia for years. U.S. special operations forces use the airfield to coordinate missions targeting al-Shabab, which continues to launch attacks across southern and central Somalia.
The base has also been a target. In 2019, al-Shabab fighters attacked the facility with a truck bomb, triggering a prolonged firefight. The blast, which left a 20-foot crater, was the most significant assault on U.S. forces in Somalia since the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu.
The airfield's expansion comes as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth leads a global review of American troop deployments that could affect AFRICOM's operations across the continent. While the outcome of that review remains uncertain, the current build-up at Baledogle signals that Somalia could continue to feature prominently in U.S. counterterrorism efforts.
After a temporary withdrawal ordered by President Donald Trump in 2020, the Biden administration redeployed troops to Somalia in 2022, resuming a full-time presence. The continued investment in Baledogle reflects a return to long-term strategic planning, with American forces working alongside Somali partners to contain al-Shabab and stabilize the region.