MOGADISHU – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with General Michael Langley of AFRICOM in Mogadishu to bolster counterterrorism cooperation.
Somali Army Chief Odowaa Yusuf and U.S. Ambassador Richard H. Riley also joined to discuss enhancing joint anti-terror operations.
Talks focused on intensifying military coordination and advancing efforts to eradicate Al-Shabaab and Daesh groups.
President Mohamud thanked the U.S. for vital military and intelligence support in the fight against extremist groups.
Somalia urged expanded U.S. airstrikes on terrorist hideouts amid ongoing threats, despite recent gains and new Somali combat aircraft.
On Tuesday, Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi met with Ambassador Riley to discuss national security and future military collaboration.
They explored ways to deepen U.S.-Somalia counterinsurgency efforts against growing militant threats.
Minister Fiqi expressed appreciation for U.S. support and called for stronger coordination in future military campaigns.
He urged Washington to expand its defense role to help dismantle terrorist networks destabilizing Somali regions.
“Our alliance with the U.S. is crucial to defeating Al-Shabaab and ISIS,” Fiqi said. “We aim to strengthen this bond.”
These meetings follow a resurgence of Al-Shabaab attacks in the Shabelle regions, where militants are regaining lost ground, raising international concern.
