President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pose for photo line photos with delegation heads of the U.S.-Africa Leader Summit, Wednesday, December 14, 2022, in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)
The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, who attended an event held at the White House, met with the President of the United States, Joe Biden.
The President shared with the leaders and diplomats of the United States, the situation in the country and the war against the Al-Shabab terrorist group, noting the practical achievements of the Somali forces in helping the communities in the areas where Al-Shabab terrorists are hiding.
Read: Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh history of corruption 2012-2017
President Joe Biden has praised the operations to liberate the Middle Shabelle and Hiraan regions, which showed the ability and power of the government and the Somali people to eradicate terrorism, and he confirmed their continued support with the Somali government.
President Hassan Sheikh said at the US-Africa summit that Al-Shabab cannot be defeated by war alone.
Read: Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh history of corruption 2012-2017
“The military is an important part to defeat the Al-Shabab group, but when we are talking about the situation in Somalia, we decided to increase the ongoing efforts in two directions: an ideological war and an economic one,” said the president.
“The cooperation of the community and their government makes terrorism like a fish out of water. They cannot survive without the community and if the community attacks them, they have no choice but to flee, and that is what they are doing now.”