Almost all US troops are scheduled to leave Somalia by the end of Friday 15 January.

The US military would not comment on the redeployment of the 700-strong contingent, but said its commitment to Somalia would remain undiminished and it would continue to monitor the activities of the Islamist militant group, al-Shabab.

The most recent US intervention in Somalia began in 2007, and its troops have mainly been assisting in the training of the federal army.

But US special forces have killed a number of al-Shabab leaders through a series of air and drone strikes, cruise missile launches and even a helicopter-borne commando raid.