US rebuts claims that Biden invited Somali president to Washington

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has welcomed Biden’s decision as an important step towards the stability and fight against terrorism in his Horn of Africa country which is dealing with the threat of the Al-Shabaab group.

News Keydmedia Online
19 May 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The United States embassy in Mogadishu has strongly refuted reports that surfaced on social media saying Biden has invited the new Somali president Hassan Sheikh to Washington DC.

“United States Embassy Mogadishu clarifies there is no official invitation from the U.S. President to Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to visit Washington, DC at this time,” said the embassy.

The American diplomatic mission in the Halane complex in Mogadishu has added that the U.S. government is aware that Somalia’s president is intensely engaged in setting up his government.

The new president of Somalia is currently preparing to take over the presidency from his predecessor Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, who lost his re-election bid in the May 15 election in Mogadishu.

The embassy’s statement comes a day after Joe Biden has approved a Pentagon request to resend American special forces back to Somalia, more than a year after Trump pulled them out of the country.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has welcomed Biden’s decision as an important step towards the stability and fight against terrorism in his Horn of Africa country which is dealing with the threat of the Al-Shabaab group.

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia H.E Hassan Sheikh Mohamud thanks and appreciates H.E Joe Biden for authorizing the deployment of American troops to Somalia.

U.S. military has drone bases in southern Somalia, including Beleddogle airstrip in the Lower Shabelle region, where AFRICOM trains special soldiers [DANAB] who are a key partner in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

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