Tuesday March 10, 2026
Kismayo (HOL) — U.S. Commander of Special Operations Command Africa met Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe, in Kismayo on Monday to discuss ongoing military operations against al-Shabab and expanded security cooperation in southern Somalia.
Maj. Gen. Claude K. Tudor Jr.’s visit comes amid intensified counterterrorism efforts in the Jubbaland region, where Somali forces, supported by international partners, are seeking to contain the al-Qaida-linked militant group.
The meeting was attended by Jubbaland’s minister of internal security, Yusuf Hussein Osman. Officials said future cooperation is expected to include training programs and technical support aimed at improving the operational capacity of local security forces.
The visit follows a recent U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) airstrike in the Harbole area, about 75 kilometers (47 miles) northwest of Kismayo. AFRICOM said the strike targeted al-Shabab fighters in an effort to disrupt the group’s operations and reduce threats to civilians and security installations.
The United States has maintained a security partnership with Somalia for years, providing air support, training and advisory assistance to federal and regional forces combating al-Shabab, which has waged an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 16 years.
