Somalia: UK Defence Secretary makes Surprise trip to Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia - In a rare trip, the UK Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson has arrived in Mogadishu on Tuesday for an unannounced visit to Somalia, Garowe Online reports.

Williamson has been received at the seaside Mogadishu Airport by UK's Ambassador to Somalia, David Concar and other British diplomats at upon arrival and escorted to the British Embassy in Halane compound.

UK Secretary of State for Defence held talks with Somali president, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo at the Presidential Palace and discussed issues regarding the bilateral relations between the two countries.

During the meeting, Williamson reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Somalia for change on security, politics and the economy as the Horn of African nation is recovering decades-long conflict.

During his stay, Williamson met with his Somalia counterpart, Hassan Ali Mohamed and the country’s army chief, General Gorod. The talks focused on rebuilding accountable and capable security forces.

Britain hosted several International International conferences on Somalia in the past few years in London as part of the efforts to help the war-torn country heal the wounds of the civil war and stand on its own feet again.

GAROWE ONLINE