US-African troop movements: A final push to end long-standng East African conflicts?

Since the infamous attack on US Black Hawk helicopters in Somalia in 1993, the US has been weary of entering sub-Sahara militarily. The recent addition of 100 US troops to an east/central African force to track down the Lord's Resistance Army in central Africa marks a turning point in US-Africa military relations. At the same time as the LRA is being hunted down with a multinational force, it is also interesting to note that Kenyan troops and African Union Ugandan troops have entered Somalia to fight Al-Shabab. The Islamic fundamentalist army presents an equally destabilizing element for the region and a much more globally destabilizing force than the LRA. What effect will the continued presence of Ugandan troops and the new Kenyan troops have on the official Somali government's effort to talk with Al-Shabab? Would the US be willing to enter Somalia as well?

Can all these recent concerted efforts in central and east Africa be a sign that the world/US is starting to see the economic and global security importance of these regions?

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/10/20111016115410991692.html
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/10/2011101591032110944.html