Mogadishu (Halbeeg News) – Leaders from Somalia and its neighbouring countries will today meet in Mogadishu to discuss security and counter-terrorism.
The leaders from Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia are expected to attend the summit which is a day after defence ministers and military commanders from these countries concluded a high-level meeting in the capital.
The three states are among the countries that contributed troops to African Union Transition Mission in Somalia.
African Union has thousands of soldiers helping the Somali government defeat al-Shabaab which has been fighting to topple the government for more than a decade.
In a statement, Villa Somalia said the conference which will be hosted by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will discuss strengthening partnerships in the fight against international terrorism.
Meanwhile, several rounds of motor shells have landed in parts of Mogadishu though there are no casualties reported.
The summit comes as Somalia intensified operations against al-Shabaab fighters in south-central Somalia.
The government forces backed by local clan militias recaptured dozens of villages and towns in Hiiraan, Galgadud, Mudug and Middle Shabelle regions.
Despite the loss of towns and villages to Somali forces, al-Shabaab is still capable of conducting attacks in major towns controlled by the Somali government.
The group also attacks military bases manned by Somali National Army and AU forces.
Discussion about this post