U.S. Africa Command's chief concludes trip to East Africa, including Somalia

General Stephen Townsend [L] shakes hands with Somali president Hassan Sheikh [C]

General Stephen Townsend, the commander of US Africa Command, has concluded his trip to the East Africa region and Angola, where he has been pitching a tent for the last couple of days with the sole aim of pushing for Washington's security agenda.

The East Africa region has been instrumental to the US especially in the fight against terrorism and economic growth, with Washington always putting the military on the frontline in handling the two common agendas for the sake of growth.

So far, the US has domiciled its troops in Djibouti and Kenya where the military tries to influence local and regional development agendas. The US has an army base operated by the US Africa Command in Djibouti with other outposts across East Africa.

During his travels between 11 and 20 May, he visited civilian and military leaders in Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Angola. The trip provided US Africa Command leaders the opportunity to meet with civilian and military leaders in each nation to underscore the importance of partnership in confronting regional threats and achieving shared security goals, Africom said.

General Townsend at first visited Somaliland, the breakaway region of Somalia, where he discussed the single US policy in Somalia with regional leader Muse Bihi Abdi and America's ambassador to Somalia Larry Andre.

Further, the top army boss also visited the Port of Berbera in Somaliland before holding a meeting with Somalia's Chief of Defense Forces General Odowaa Yusuf Rageh, and the African Union Transition Mission [ATMIS] Force Commander Lt. General Diomede Ndegeya.

In Djibouti, Townsend presided over the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa [CJTF-HOA] change of command ceremony where Major General Bill Zana passed responsibility to Major General Jami Shawley.

“I came to Djibouti, the only permanent US base in Africa, to change command of CJTF-Horn of Africa from one great leader to another,” Townsend said. “Stability and security in East Africa is an important US national security interest and no one has been more dedicated to that than Major General Bill Zana. Bill’s leadership at CJTF-HOA, has been instrumental in achieving US objectives in East Africa and maintaining our superb, long-term relationship with our Djiboutian partners.

"I’m optimistic for the future as Major General Jami Shawley assumes command of CJTF-HOA. I know she will continue our mission to maintain pressure on terrorists and other malign actors in this region and continue to engage with our African and international partners who are so critical to our collective success.”

In Kenya, Townsend and US Chargé d’Affaires to Kenya Eric W Kneedler met with Kenyan President Uruhu Kenyatta to discuss mutual security concerns and to express appreciation to Kenya for its continued leadership and collaboration on regional security. Townsend and Kneedler also participated in a pass and review at the Kenyan Defence Force Headquarters.

His trip coincided with the presidential election in Somalia which saw Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo lose to former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The American top army boss expressed satisfaction with the polls and pledged to work closely with the new administration.

Top among others, the US pledged to help Somalia deal with the Al-Shabaab menace. Already, President Joe Biden had sanctioned the deployment of close to 500 soldiers to the Horn of Africa nation, over a year after former President Donald Trump signed an executive order which triggered the exit of close to 700 soldiers.

GAROWE ONLINE