John Kerry has become the first US secretary of state to visit Somalia in more than 20-years, on a trip focusing on the country’s security development and upcoming elections.
Kerry — the highest-ranking American official to visit Somalia since 1992 when the U.S troops invaded after the collapse of the Central government in an effort to ‘Restore Hope‘— was due to meet Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, leaders of the regional states and civil groups during the two-hour visit in Mogadishu.
Security was tight for the visit of the senior U.S official, while the airport flights were cancelled during his stay in the capital.
According to source from the Somali government, talks will mainly focus on the upcoming 2016 elections where the International community is expecting the current government to prepare for peaceful and democratic elections across the country.
Mr Kerry will then head to Djibouti as part of his trip in East Africa.
In 2013, the United States government formally recognised the federal government of Somalia following decades of civil war.
U.S President Barack Obama appointed Katherine Dhanani to serve as the new ambassador to Somalia.
Stay tuned for the updates
Horseed Media
U.S Secretary of State makes landmark visit to Somalia
Published: May 5, 2015
