Somalia President meets with U.S. Defense Secretary in Djibouti

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Djiboutian leaders and the president of Somalia in Djibouti, marking his first trip to Africa as Secretary of Defense amid continued violence in the region.

He said that the U.S. is proud to partner with Djiboutian forces and African Union forces in support of neighboring Somalia, where al-Shabab militants are increasingly resistant amid ongoing military operations against the group.

Secretary Austin underscored his appreciation for the counterterrorism endeavors undertaken by the government of Somalia. These endeavors have yielded significant successes in liberating substantial swaths of territory from the clutches of al-Shabab during prior military operations.

However, the Federal Government of Somalia is actively seeking international assistance in its unwavering commitment to eradicate the remnants of al-Shabab from all corners of the nation.

This collaborative effort comes in the wake of the government’s announcement regarding the commencement of its second phase of operations to restore peace and stability to the country.