Somalia president Hassan Sheikh embarks on US trip

WASHINGTON - President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to be received by United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III today as he embarks on a working trip to the World Superpower, a trip which comes hours after he left Nairobi after the inauguration of President William Ruto.

Hassan Sheikh, who has been invited in shuttle diplomatic trips securing his second term in June, passed through Ethiopia on Wednesday night where he held a meeting with the country's Finance Minister Ahmed Shide, a confidant of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The White House confirmed the trip through a message in which it clarified that the president of Somalia will be holding a series of bilateral meetings in the country upon his arrival on Thursday. It's his ninth oversee trip since his victory against Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.

"Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III will welcome the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, to the Pentagon for an enhanced honor cordon and bilateral meeting at 12:30 p.m. EDT, on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022," read the statement.

All journalists desiring to cover the arrival ceremony, the statement noted, "must obtain a wristband from security screening". "Journalists without a Pentagon access badge must go through security screening at the base of the River Entrance Pedestrian Bridge, and will be escorted to the arrival ceremony from there."

Authorities in the US further noted that security screening will begin at approximately 11:40 a.m. EDT; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification. Security screening at this location will close promptly at 12:00 p.m. EDT.

Once security screening has been initiated at the base of the bridge, all journalists entering the building via the bridge for any reason, including those with a Pentagon facility access card not covering the arrival ceremony, must undergo security screening, it added.

"Journalists with a Pentagon access badge, and who have entered the building prior to 12:00 p.m. EDT, may go through security screening at the River Entrance to obtain their wristband; please obtain your wristband at the River Entrance by 12:10 p.m. EDT."

Hassan Sheikh had indicated that he will closely work with the United States on matters of economic development and improvement of security. The president's second stint was welcomed by the redeployment of US Africa Command soldiers who had been withdrawn by Donald Trump in 2021.

The American soldiers have been training and equipping Danab Special forces, who are instrumental in the fight against Al-Shabaab. The militants, the US recently warned, are capable of using modern technology systems including drones while targeting innocent civilians and security forces.

GAROWE ONLINE