Mogadishu, Somalia — The African Union’s top envoy in Somalia, El-Hadji Ibrahima Diene, on Tuesday hosted a high-level U.S. delegation in Mogadishu for talks aimed at bolstering joint security efforts and countering militant threats.
The visiting American team was led by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) chief General Dagvin Anderson and included the U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, Richard Riley. Discussions centered on deepening collaboration between the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), Somali authorities, and U.S. partners to tackle the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab and to promote regional stability.
A statement following the meeting noted that both sides reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Somalia’s security sector reforms, enhancing the operational capacity of Somali security forces, and ensuring a smooth transition as responsibility for national security increasingly shifts from international forces to Somali leadership.
The visit by the AFRICOM commander comes at a time when Somalia is navigating a critical security transition, with AUSSOM gradually taking over responsibilities from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). U.S. military support, particularly in training, intelligence sharing, and targeted operations, remains a central pillar in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
The talks underscored the shared strategic interest of the AU and the U.S. in preventing extremist violence from destabilizing not only Somalia but the wider Horn of Africa region.