By Mustafa Abdi Ibrahim
Mogadishu – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) chief Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson on Thursday to reaffirm counterterrorism cooperation and security coordination, as uncertainty deepens over the future of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.
According to the Somali presidency, the talks centered on the regional security landscape, ongoing military offensives against al-Shabab, and the expansion of bilateral defense ties.
President Mohamud expressed gratitude to Washington for its continued military and security assistance, underscoring that U.S. support has been pivotal in strengthening the Somali National Army and advancing stability and development. “The cooperation between Somalia and the United States continues to play a significant role in strengthening the capabilities of the Somali National Army and promoting security, stability and development,” he said.
Gen. Anderson reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to Somalia’s counterterrorism efforts, pledging sustained assistance for troop development and broader strategic cooperation. “The United States remains committed to supporting Somalia, particularly in counterterrorism efforts, troop development and strengthening strategic cooperation between our two countries,” Anderson stated.
The high-level meeting coincides with an extraordinary summit in Kampala, Uganda, where regional leaders from AUSSOM troop-contributing countries are gathered to discuss the mission’s financing and long-term viability. The three-day summit, running from July 29 to 31, brings together heads of state from Burundi, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda, alongside senior officials from the African Union, the United Nations, and IGAD.
These deliberations are overshadowed by a deepening funding crisis for AUSSOM. Declining international donor support has fueled concerns over the mission’s sustainability and its capacity to continue helping Somali forces combat al-Shabab and stabilize recently recovered areas.
The United States remains one of Somalia’s principal security partners, providing military training, intelligence support, and counterterrorism assistance, while AFRICOM continues targeted operations aimed at degrading al-Shabab’s operational capabilities.
