President Mohamud meets with senior US officials

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: President Hassan Sheik Mohamud welcomed a delegation led by the United States Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland and US Ambassador to Somalia, Larry André.

The meeting discussed issues of mutual interest between the two countries. The Under Secretary reiterated the United State’s commitment to continue being a reliable partner as Somalia strengthens its state institutions to achieve political, security and economic stability. 

“Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs shared with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud the United States’ readiness to assist Somalia in three areas: security, reconciliation and reform plans,” read a statement from the US State Department.

For his part, President Hassan Sheikh expressed his gratitude to the Biden Administration for the support extended to the country and for the continued US-led counter-terrorism efforts in Somalia and the African Union.

Meanwhile, the US Under Secretary for Political Affairs  met at a round table meeting with the Special Envoy for drought, Abdirahman Abdishakur and UN agencies in Somalia including the Food and Agriculture Organization, UNICEF, and World Food Program and discussed the food situation in the country. 

A statement from the US State Department said, “the United States plans to provide immediate food assistance to Somalia, [support] famine relief efforts, and provide other humanitarian assistance in a new $55 million humanitarian aid package for the Horn of Africa region as the country faces its worst drought in 40 years.”

The US Under Secretary of State’s visit to Mogadishu comes a few weeks after Biden issued an order for the redeployment of American troops to Somalia to aid in the war against AlShabab.