Kerry Makes Historic Trip to Somalia

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made a brief unannounced trip to Somalia Tuesday, in a bid to show support for the progress made by the country’s government and to thank regional nations for their contributions to AMISOM, the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia. It marked the first time a sitting secretary of state has visited Somalia.

In Mogadishu, Kerry held talks with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, the country’s prime minister. He also met with three regional presidents and a civil society group.

After greeting Kerry at the airport, the Somalia president said: "This is a great moment for us... thank you for the time to be with us."

"I am glad to be here," responded Kerry, who also expressed hope that Somalia could make further progress in the future.

Kerry also expressed hope Somalia will make further progress, saying "The next time that I come, we have to be able to just walk downtown."

The Somali president said downtown Mogadishu "is very different than it was two years ago," and that the roads have improved and the city has traffic jams.

Prior to his arrival, a senior State Department official said, "I think it (Kerry's visit) will send a strong signal to al-Shabab that we are not turning our backs on the Somali people and that we will continue to engage with Somalia until we bring al-Shabab's terror to an end." In a VOA interview, President Mohamud called al-Shabab an "enemy that has no dignity." He commented shortly after the Somali-based militant group attacked Kenya's Garissa University College, last month, killing 147 people. (VOA)