The Commander of the Somali Air Force, Brigadier General Abdirisaaq Mohamud Haji, met today at his office with the U.S. Defense Attaché to Somalia, Colonel Egan O’Reilly, to discuss critical issues regarding the situation in the country.
The meeting, which lasted several hours, focused specifically on strengthening defense cooperation between Somalia and the United States—particularly regarding the rebuilding, capacity building, and development of the Somali Air Force.
Brigadier General Abdirisaaq Mohamud Haji thanked the U.S. government for its consistent support of the armed forces, especially the Somali Air Force, which is currently undergoing a recovery process thanks to both domestic and international assistance.
For his part, Colonel Egan O’Reilly pledged that his government would continue its support and thanked the Air Force command for the warm welcome he received today in Mogadishu.
The United States is a major provider of support to Somalia, and the meeting also addressed the U.S. role in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
The U.S. also trains and pays the salaries of the Danab forces—an elite unit of the Somali National Army that combats Al-Shabaab and is considered the most effective force currently in Somalia’s military. However, this meeting is part of the Somali government’s efforts to bolster international support—particularly in the areas of defense and the military—given the critical juncture and the ongoing conflict with Al-Shabaab.
