US pledges more support for Somalia during meeting with President Hassan Sheikh

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has held meetings with the Secretary Of State Antony J. Blinken and other senior US government officials attending the US-Africa summit.

The US secretary of state said Washington will continue adding “greatly value to the strong relationship with Somalia and other key partners as well as continued engagement and leadership in support of African and regional security.”

The U.S. Department of Defense said it is fortunate to partner with Somalia’s courageous armed forces, and we’ll continue to support your government’s efforts as you further develop your security forces.

A statement sent to newsrooms after the meeting read, “So we’re grateful for all of your countries’ robust cooperation with the United States.  

Our partnerships contribute directly to many of the key goals in our National Defense Strategy, including defending our country, deterring aggression, and combating violent extremism.  And our partnerships are crucial to tackling transnational challenges that threaten us all, such as climate change and pandemics.”

It further read, “We’re all here today because we recognize that African leadership remains key to confronting our era’s defining challenges of peace, security, and governance, so we deeply appreciate your leadership and your friendship and look forward to continuing to build upon our important partnership.”

The summit, which entered its second day focused on increasing two-way trade and investment in the U.S.-Africa Business Forum (USABF). 

CEOs and private sector leadership from over 300 American and African companies will convene with the Heads of Delegation to catalyze investment in critical sectors, including health, infrastructure, energy, agribusiness, and digital.

The United States has provided more than $3 billion in humanitarian assistance for Somalia since 2006 to address the problems of drought, famine, and refugees. 

Since 2011, the United States has provided an additional $253 million in development assistance to support economic, political, and social sectors to achieve greater stability, establish a formal economy, obtain access to basic services, and attain representation through legitimate, credible governance. 

The United States works closely with other donor partners and international organizations to support social services and the development of an effective and representative security sector, including military, police, and justice sector, while supporting ongoing ATMIS efforts.