Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
discussed bilateral relations with the new United States Special
Representative for Somalia James McAnulty in Mogadishu Monday (August
26th), UN-funded Radio Bar-Kulan reported.
Presidential spokesman Abdirahman Omar Osman said Mohamud and
McAnulty also discussed the ongoing talks between the Somali federal
government and Jubbaland leaders in Addis Ababa, the upcoming national
conference in Mogadishu and the security situation in the country.
McAnulty pledged that the US government would support Somalia. Also
on Monday, United Nations Special Representative to Somalia Nicholas Kay
praised recent security and development gains in an address to the
African Union Peace and Security Council meeting in Addis Ababa, the UN
News Centre reported.
However, Kay said collective and co-ordinated efforts from the Somali
government, neighbouring countries and the international community are
needed to achieve significant progress.
"Progress is being made in Somalia, but the gains are reversible if
we do not maintain and increase our collective efforts," he said. "To
fail to do this would have serious consequence in and beyond Somalia.
Let us not run that risk."