MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Gavin Williamson made a surprise trip to Somalia on Tuesday, UK embassy said, becoming the first UK Defence Secretary of State to visit Somalia for years
The top UK diplomat was spending just a few hours in the capital, Mogadishu where he was met Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.
Mr. Gavin congratulated him on the positive outcomes during the Somalia Partnership Forum agreed in Brussels.
He re-affirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Somalia deliver real change on security, politics and the economy for the benefit of all Somalis.
“On my first visit to Somalia, I was delighted to meet President Farmaajo and hear about his government plans and priorities and we discussed how we can work together to improve security and deliver the economic development that Somalia needs to improve the lives of all its people.” Mr. Gavin.
During a meeting with AMISOM leadership, the Secretary of State discussed how the UK and AMISOM can help deliver the Somali Transition plan and emphasized the crucial role AMISOM plays in helping Somalia take responsibility for its security.
He reiterated the UK support highlighting how the UK ggovernment, through the United Kingdom Mission Support Team (UKMST), has bolstered training support to AMISOM troops and the Somali security forces in Mogadishu and federal member states.
Mr. Gavin also held meetings with his Somali counterpart, Minister Hassan Ali Mohamed, and Chief of Defence Forces Major General Abdiweli Jama Gorod’.
Their talks focused on rebuilding accountable and capable security forces to take up the country’s security.
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