AFRICOM chief returns to Somalia ahead of military offensives

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: US Africa Command chief Gen. Michael Langley returned to Somalia on Tuesday for his second visit to the Horn of Africa nation since taking office last August.

AFRICOM said in a statement Gen. Langley met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Defence Minister Abdulkadir Nur and ATMIS officials to ‘troops to discuss shared priorities and operations, such as our shared fight against al Shabaab.’

The AFRICOM head who assumed office in August 2022 also visited Kismayo where he met President Ahmed Madobe of Jubaland and US-trained special forces, Danab   as well as U.S. troops to ‘witness ongoing training efforts, and see ongoing operations firsthand.’

Gen. Langley first came to Somalia 9n 28 August 2022 in his round of tours in the East and Horn of Africa region barely two weeks since he assumed leadership of AFRICOM.

His visit comes amid increased U.S airstrikes against Al-Shabaab and ahead of the planned second phase of the military offensive in southern parts of the country.