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UK reaffirms support for Somalia's fight against terrorism

The United Kingdom's State Minister for Armed Forces James Stephen Heappey during a meeting with Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu on February 25, 2024. (Photo: Villa Somalia)

By Hassan Mohamed | Monday, February 26, 2024

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud expressed his appreciation to the UK government for its role in training Somali forces.

The United Kingdom's State Minister for Armed Forces James Stephen Heappey during a visit to Somalia on Sunday met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and pledged his country’s support in the ongoing war against Al Shabaab and combating international terrorism.

According to a statement by the Somalia Government, President Hassan Sheikh briefed the visiting Minister on the ongoing fight against terror in the Horn of Africa country.

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“The President thanked the UK government for training Somalia forces at a time when the country is preparing to take over security responsibilities from the remaining African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troops,” the statement read.

The statement further said that Minister Heappey thanked the government and people of Somalia for the remarkable developments and pledged his country's continued defence collaboration and their joint war against terrorism.

In a statement shared on social media, the UK embassy in Mogadishu said the Minister also discussed security cooperation with the Somalia President.

We’re advancing the UK-Somalia
Partnership 🤝

Today 🇬🇧 Minister for Armed
Forces @JSHeappey visited Mogadishu
where he met 🇸🇴 President@HassanSMohamud to discuss security
cooperation and our bilateral ties. https://t.co/Pr7WJNC3v4
— UK in Somalia🇬🇧🇸🇴 (@UKinSomalia) February 25, 2024

The UK joined other countries to support Somalia after their diplomatic stand-off with Ethiopia after Addis Ababa signed a maritime pact with the breakaway region of Somaliland on January 1.

“The UK is concerned by escalating tensions in the Horn of Africa. We reaffirm our full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia. We urge restraint and dialogue to peacefully resolve issues,” the UK Embassy in Mogadishu posted on X.

The UK and Somalia enjoy a close, longstanding and strategic partnership focused on shared priorities of state-building, security, counter-terrorism, economic development, human development and addressing climate change.

The UK was the first Western country to re-open its Embassy in Mogadishu 10 years ago.

Since then, through bilateral engagement and convening important international partners, the UK has supported Somali-led efforts to strengthen its federal system, helped to reduce conflict and instability, supported economic and social development and championed Somalia in international forums.