President Mohamud meets top US, IMF and WB officials in push for his security and economic agenda

GOOBJOOG NEWS|WASHINGTON: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held a series of talks with senior US government officials and the heads of IMF and World Bank in Washington on his second day of US tour on Friday.

The President met IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva where the two discussed economic reform progress. The President further met the World Bank President David Malpass. Villa Somalia said the two sides, ‘discussed the Bank’s continued support in Somalia’s reform efforts to rebuild sound economic governance institutions that propel economic growth and stability for the benefit of our people.

The meetings with the two lenders was key for the President’s economic reform agenda and Somalia’s quest for debt relief. Somalia reached the Decision Point milestone under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative in 2021. The World Bank and IMF also set a three-year period upon which the Horn of Africa nation can reach the final phase of the HIPC process known as the Completion Point in 2024.

The Decision Point milestone opened doors for Somalia to access concessional loans from the World Banks International Development Association.

In his second round of meetings, the President met President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sulivan and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall. This followed a meeting with Defence Secretary Austin Lloyd on the President’s first day. According to a statement from Villa Somalia and the White House officials, the two sides discussed the war against international terrorism and stability in the Horn of Africa.

The meetings come amidst a major military offensive in central Somali regions where the Somali National Army with the support of regional government forces and clan militias have mounted several operations against Al-Shabaab. In the latest offensive in Hiiraan region, the Ministry of Information said the SNA killed 35 Al-Shabaab militants and recaptured more villages in Hiiraan region.

The President concluded his round of meetings with an audience with U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken and State Department Under Secretary for Political Affairs. The two sides discussed the importance of combating terrorism, promoting good governance & responding to drought in Somalia.