Somalia president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud vowed to rebuild the country’s security forces to oust Al Qaeda and Al Shabab.
Washington (RBC) U.S President Barack Obama has announced that his administration will move to provide military assistance to Somalia federal government after lifting the United Nations arms embargo last month.
“The United States is committed to being a long-term partner in assisting the defense forces in Somalia to become professional military forces,” U.S National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said.
According to news agencies Obama issued a memo to Secretary of State John Kerry that said Somalia is eligible for “defence articles and defence services” under U.S. arms export and foreign aid laws.
The decision allows the US Secretary of State to consider the provision of arms to Somalia but does not signal a decision to provide specific assistance.
After the first presidential election in side the country, Somalia new federal government is struggling to rebuild its security forces after more than two decades of chaos ant turbulence in the horn of Africa nation.
Last month the UN Security Council suspended its arms embargo against Somalia for a year, easing the oldest international weapons blockade to help the government in Somalia take on Islamist militants affiliated to Al Qaeda.
Meanwhile the Djibouti government became the first nation to provide military equipments to Somalia government last week.
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