The President of the Republic of Somaliland, His Excellency Musa Bihi Abdi, on Tuesday received at the Presidential Palace the US Ambassador, Amb. Richard H. Riley, accompanied by the Commander of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), Major General Brian Cashman, amongst other officials and military officers from the US government.
The President thanked the members of the US government delegation for the cooperation and bilateral relationship in the Horn of Africa and the military aspects of the two countries of Somaliland and the United States. The President also noted that the US delegation’s visit will strengthen future relations between the two sides.
On their part, the US Ambassador Richard H. Riley and Major General Brian Cashman, stated that their country is ready to cooperate in the areas of security in the Horn of Africa.
They commended the President of the Republic of Somaliland for his role in the development of the country, democratic issues, the holding of these elections, and the strengthening of relations between the two countries and the political maturity and progress that has led such monumental states for a country which is still not officially recognized at the global stage.
They particularly commended the President for accepting the results announced by the National Electoral Commission.
The President was accompanied at the meeting by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Isse Keyd Mohamud, Interior Minister Mohamed Kahin Ahmed, the Commanders of the Military and Intelligence Forces, Lieutenant General Nuuh Ismail Taani and Mustafa Mohamed Hassan (Bacaluul) and the Legal Advisor to the President, Amaal Abdilaahi Cawil.
The delegation was accompanied by the ambassador and the commander of senior officials and officers from the US government and US military forces in Africa, namely; Colonel Carl Benander, Andrew Kelly, political advisor, Colonel Brian Luti, Matthew Cassidy and Sergeant Major Chadwick Forbes.
It is worth noting that the meeting is in line with the US-Somaliland National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA ) law that has US interests in Berbera as a port crucial to putting in check the Houthis, Iranians, Chinese and Russian influences in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region, as hitherto noted by the US defense department.
