Mogadishu (KAAB TV) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held a high-level meeting in Mogadishu with General Michael E. Langley, Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), to discuss the enhancement of security cooperation between Somalia and the United States.
During the meeting, President Mohamud underscored the urgency of intensifying joint operations against the terrorist group Al-Shabaab. He also emphasized the importance of coordinated actions under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and broader multinational frameworks such as AUSSOM.
Simultaneously, Somali Minister of Defense Ahmed Fiqi, together with the Chief of the Somali National Army, Major General Odawaa Yusuf Rage, held a parallel meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Richard H. Riley and General Langley, who was accompanied by senior AFRICOM officials.
The discussions centered on accelerating joint military operations against Al-Shabaab and ISIS (Daesh), both of which pose significant threats to Somalia and regional stability. The leaders also explored ways to enhance operational effectiveness by improving training programs, providing advanced equipment, and facilitating intelligence sharing.
Minister Fiqi expressed deep appreciation for the United States’ ongoing support, particularly in building Somalia’s military capabilities, conducting targeted airstrikes, and aiding in the liberation of territories from terrorist control — efforts that have contributed to restoring hope among the Somali people.