MOGADISHU, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday welcomed the new Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, who was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Richard H. Riley.
The meeting focused on deepening Somalia–U.S. cooperation, particularly in the areas of security, counterterrorism, and stabilization. Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to defeating terrorist threats and building lasting peace across the country.
President Hassan Sheikh praised AFRICOM’s continued role in supporting Somalia’s security sector reforms and military capacity-building. He emphasized that Somalia remains dedicated to advancing stability in the region through close collaboration with the United States and other international partners.
General Anderson, who assumed command of AFRICOM earlier this year, assured that the U.S. will maintain its strong support for Somalia’s fight against al-Shabaab and other militant groups, while also backing long-term stabilization efforts.
The visit comes in a year when AFRICOM has carried out over 70 airstrikes in Somalia, making it the largest U.S. air campaign in a single year against al-Shabaab and Islamic State militants in the country. The operations have targeted training camps, weapons depots, and insurgent hideouts, significantly degrading militant capabilities while also raising debate over civilian impact and sustainability.
The high tempo of U.S. military operations underscores Washington’s commitment to counterterrorism in Somalia, as Somali forces push forward with offensives to retake rural strongholds from insurgents. The partnership between Mogadishu and Washington remains central to these efforts, blending direct military support with long-term stabilization programs.