Somalia and the US agree to increase their security collaboration to fight Al Shabaab

March 16 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The governments of Somalia and the United States have signed an agreement on Thursday to increase collaboration when it comes to reinforcing the security forces of the African country, amid the increase in operations against the terrorist group Al Shabaab, linked to the Al Qaeda organization. .

The Somali Defense Minister, Abduqadir Mohamed Nur Jama, has indicated on his account on the social network Twitter that the joint statement seeks to improve the capabilities of the security forces, mainly the elite Danab unit, while stressing that both parties “They reaffirm their commitment to build the Danab force to fight against Al Shabaab.”

“The common goal is to train and equip Danab to respond to immediate threats and strengthen the capacity of security forces to progressively assume more responsibility for force development, operations and their sustainability. The Federal Government of Somalia is committed to ensure Danab’s long-term sustainability,” he said, before thanking Washington for its support.

For its part, the US Embassy in Mogadishu has detailed that the agreement has been signed by the Somali Defense Minister and the US Ambassador, Larry Andé. “The United States is committed to providing training, equipment and medical assistance to the Somali Army and the Danab force in the liberation of communities from Al Shabaab,” he specified on Twitter.

Somalia has increased offensives against Al Shabaab in recent months with the support of clans and local militias as part of a series of decisions taken by the president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who promised upon taking office to put the fight against terrorism at the center of his efforts to stabilize the African country.