Mogadishu, Somalia – The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has reaffirmed its dedication to eradicating both Al-Shabaab and ISIS militants from the Horn of Africa. This stance underpinned Gen. Dagvin Anderson’s recent trip to the region, including visits to Ethiopia, Puntland, and Somaliland.
To underscore the US commitment to handling Somalia under a single Somalia policy, Gen. Anderson stated that Puntland and Somaliland are member states of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
On Monday, Gen. Anderson emphasized US support for maximum pressure on ISIS, Al-Shabaab, and other violent extremist organizations. While ISIS terrorists are confined to the Bari region in Somalia, Al-Shabaab maintains a strong presence in the central and southern regions.
The trip aligned with President Trump’s priorities and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s guidance, forming part of a renewed effort to strengthen Washington’s commitment to counterterrorism operations across the continent, with a focus on protecting the US homeland.
“The whole reason I came here is that 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 said.
During his trip, Gen. Anderson met with government leaders to advance what AFRICOM described as a laser-focused approach to confronting terrorism through burden sharing, deeper cooperation, and aligned security priorities.
In Addis Ababa, Gen. Anderson met Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Chief of Defense Field Marshal Birhanu Jula Gelelcha to discuss the growing threat from ISIS and Al-Shabaab. Ethiopia remains a key security stakeholder in Somalia.
In Hargeisa, the administrative capital of Somaliland, Gen. Anderson met President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, 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 also visited the port city of Berbera to evaluate the security environment and review the port’s operational capacity. In Puntland, his final stop, Gen. Anderson met Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugatoor, Gen. Adan Abdi Hashi, chief of the Puntland Defense Forces, and other senior officials to accelerate anti-terrorism efforts.
The US general praised Puntland’s ongoing maximum-pressure campaign against ISIS in the Golis Mountains, acknowledging progress but urging intensified operations.
Gen. Anderson reiterated that countering extremist groups is a shared responsibility that no single nation can tackle alone. He reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting African partner forces achieving measurable gains.
