Mogadishu, Somalia – The commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), Gen. Dagvin Anderson, has started the initial phase of high-level visits across Africa, conducting meetings in Ethiopia, Somaliland, and Puntland to bolster collaborative efforts against Al-Shabaab and ISIS.
“The whole reason I came here is because we have shared threats… I’m not new to this region; I understand what the issues are, and we’re here to help empower our African partners to address these threats in a united way,” Gen. Anderson stated at the beginning of the trip.
In the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, Gen. Anderson met with President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro, Brig Gen Niman Yusuf Osman, chief of general staff of the Somaliland Armed Forces, and Adm. Ahmed Hurre Hariye, commander of the Somaliland coast guard.
He then went to Berbera to evaluate the security situation and examine the port’s operational capabilities, a site considered strategically vital by Western military strategists.
The US commander subsequently visited Puntland, where he conferred with regional vice-president Ilyas Osman Lugator, Gen. Adan Abdi Hashi, chief of the Puntland Defence Forces, and other top officials. The talks emphasized speeding up counter-terrorism activities in northern Somalia.
Gen. Anderson commended Puntland’s latest offensive against ISIS, during which local troops dislodged fighters from entrenched positions in the rugged Al-Miskaad mountains of Bari region.
“As we face the growing security threats, including the rise of terrorist activities in East Africa, the Sahel, and West Africa’s coastal regions, the collective efforts are more important than ever. Together we can build a more prosperous and secure future for the United States, for Africa and most importantly, for our children,” he said.
In Addis Ababa, Gen. Anderson held discussions with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on regional security and the continued battle against Al-Shabaab and ISIS.
This tour occurs as US military operations in Somalia surge. Airstrikes by American forces in 2025 have risen tenfold, primarily aimed at ISIS and backing Puntland’s advances against the group’s mountain bases in Bari region.
