MOGADISHU (SONNA): The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, in a televised interview with a US media outlet, discussed a range of issues including the relationship between the US and Somalia, and President Donald J. Trump’s declaration of peace in the Middle East and globally.
Responding to a question on the relationship between Somalia and the United States, President Mohamud stated, “Well, we’ve been working with the United States for a number of years now, almost close to two decades, particularly in the war against terrorism. The US has always supported us, but this time is unique because President Donald Trump has made a public announcement that he is committed to taking decisive steps to destroy the terrorist groups.”
He emphasized the impact of this commitment, noting that while Somalia has long been the target of Al-Qaeda and Daesh (ISIS), US support has been key in weakening their capabilities.
“As you know, Somalia has long been the center of Al-Qaeda and Daesh (ISIS). But now, with the collaboration and support of President Trump and his administration, we are continuing to undermine their operations, which means that the numbers of Al-Qaeda troops operating in Somalia have significantly decreased,” the President explained. “The war has been eased, and there have been no major attacks in our neighboring countries of Kenya and Ethiopia, or in Somalia itself, particularly in the capital, Mogadishu, for over two years now. Mogadishu is a bustling city, the economy is growing, and investment is increasing because the number of terrorist attacks has decreased.”
The President also responded to a question about the escalating US-China trade war, acknowledging that while Somalia has a long-standing diplomatic relationship with China, the current financial focus is predominantly with the US. He highlighted the significant investment and involvement of US companies in Somalia’s private sector and government initiatives.
Finally, addressing President Trump’s Declaration of Peace, President Mohamud confirmed that peace is prevalent in the Middle East and across the globe. He attributed this to President Trump’s stance against terrorism and his administration’s proposed peace initiative for the Middle East.
In summary, President Mohamud stressed that the consistent support from the US government is vital and has effectively diminished the strength of terrorist organizations operating within Somalia.
