Friday September 5, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — The new commander of U.S. Africa Command
(AFRICOM), General Dagvin R. M. Anderson, pledged continued American support to
Somalia’s fight against al-Shabaab and ISIS during a meeting with President
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu on Wednesday.
General Anderson briefed the president on AFRICOM’s
counterterrorism strategy and said Washington will step up cooperation through
airstrikes, intelligence sharing, military training, and broader support to
strengthen the Somali National Army.
The talks also addressed the wider security situation in the
Horn of Africa, including the threat posed by armed groups crossing borders and
the need for stronger regional cooperation.
President Hassan Sheikh thanked AFRICOM for what he
described as a vital partnership, saying his government was determined to
intensify international cooperation to achieve peace and stability in Somalia
and the region.
General Anderson’s visit forms part of a tour of African
countries hosting U.S. troops, underscoring Washington’s enduring military
presence and commitment to regional security.