Puntland’s Regional State President in Somalia, Mr. Saed Abdullahi Deni yesterday held a high-level meeting held in the port city of Bosaso with senior U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) officials, led by Colonel James Rose, commander of U.S. Special Operations in East Africa, an official statement from the Puntland Presidency said.
The high-level discussions centered on ways to further strengthen the relations and strategic cooperation between Puntland and the U.S., specifically in the areas of security, the fight against terrorism, and maintain the security of its territorial waters.
The two sides also discussed on ways to further expedite the establishment of U.S. military base in the port city of Bosaso, the cooperation on the operations against extremist groups such as Al-Shabab and ISIS, who are hiding in Al-Miskaad and Al-Madow Mountains, the fight against piracy, and enhancing the training of Puntland’s Defense Forces.
Members of his government were in attendance of the high-level meeting including presidential advisers, the Director-General of Puntland’s Presidency, and military officials. The meeting comes at a time when the strategic cooperation between Puntland and the U.S. is strengthening particularly in the areas of security, the fight against armed groups, and operations taking place in Puntland areas.
