(21-07-23) MOGADISHU — The US Embassy in Somalia on Friday revealed plans for strengthening its military alliance with the African nation, following a meeting with Somalia’s Minister of Defence, Abdiqadir Mohamed Nur, and Chief of Defence Forces, Brigadier General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyiddin. The discussions centred around boosting Somalia’s security with the establishment of new military bases for the Somali National Army’s elite unit, the Danab Brigade.
The move comes amidst Mr. Nur’s campaign for continued international support against terrorism. The Minister held meetings with key diplomatic figures, including the UK ambassador to Somalia, the special envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, the head of the UN Somalia Political Office, and the commander of the Ugandan army.
These proposals signify a commitment from Somalia to strengthen global partnerships in its fight against terrorism. In particular, the planned US military bases will provide vital support to the SNA-Danab, which has been trained by the US to combat the East African jihadist terrorist group, Al-Shabaab.
.@US2Somalia had a productive meeting with MinDef @Amohamednur, CDF, and ONS @KamalGutale about strengthening US support for Somalia’s security by establishing new military bases for SNA-Danab. Grateful to be working closely with Somalia in enhancing regional stability.… pic.twitter.com/LmDIaUoBzT
— U.S. Embassy Mogadishu, Somalia (@US2SOMALIA) July 21, 2023
Expressing gratitude for the sustained international support in restoring peace, Mr. Nur said, “These discussions are instrumental in our operations against terrorist groups. Our international allies remain crucial to our efforts in restoring regional peace and security.”
The announcement comes as Somalia gears up for the second phase of its fight against Al-Shabaab, declared in March. Just this week, the Ministry of Defence reported that over 200 Al-Shabaab terrorists have been eliminated in a series of operations, some of which were backed by US drone technology.
