Rome March 03, 2023 (SD) – -The commander of the US Africa Command, Gen. Michael Langley, has expressed optimism that the Somali government will succeed in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

Speaking at the international meeting of African defense chiefs in Rome, Gen Langley emphasized the importance of the Somali President’s efforts to combat Al-Shabaab’s presence in Somalia.

“We are highly optimistic about how Somalia is handling the operations against Al-Shabaab. However, there is a need for the government to provide support for the communities affected by the drought,” said Gen Langley.

He also mentioned that the United States supports the Federal Government of Somalia’s efforts to combat Al-Shabaab’s insurgency and that there are no significant civilian issues arising from these operations.

In the past year, the United States has provided over $2.5 billion in counter-terrorism assistance to the African continent, with $1.3 billion of that amount specifically allocated to Somalia.

The 2023 African Defense Chiefs Conference has brought together leaders from 43 African countries and 15 NATO nations in Rome to discuss the global fight against terrorism and the importance of international cooperation in addressing security challenges.