Ambassador Abdihadir Ahmed Fik, head of the Somali army, General Odwaa Yusuf Reij, met on Tuesday with US Africa Commander (Africa), General Michael E. Langley and his U.S. Ambassador and Somalia, his Rich H. Reilly.
The conference held in Mogadishu focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between Somali and the US in the areas of security and defense.
The two sides exchanged critical information and emphasized the need to strengthen joint efforts in the fight against terrorist groups, particularly Al-Shabaab and ISIS.
Minister Fik expressed his deep gratitude for the continued support of the US government in Somalia’s security sector.
He highlighted our contributions to air strikes, capacity building for the Somali army, and direct support in our continued efforts to free the territory from terrorist control and restore hope for the Somali people.
“This collaboration remains an important pillar of the progress we made in our counterterrorism campaign,” Minister Fiki said he acknowledged the strategic value of the US-Somalia defense partnership.
General Langley reaffirmed the US commitment to supporting Somali’s path to long-term security and sovereignty.
The parties agreed to dismantle the extremist network and maintain and expand a joint operation aimed at stabilizing the newly released region.
The conference tells us key steps in strengthening bilateral cooperation to ensure safe and stable Somalia, free from the threat of terrorism.
