Defence ministers meet in Somalia to discuss al-Shabaab threat

The defence ministers and military commanders of Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti convened in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Tuesday to discuss joint anti-terrorism measures against the al-Shabaab terrorist group.

This meeting of defence ministers was the first in Somalia since 2007, when the African Union mission was launched in the country. Now named ATMIS, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti are among the countries who contribute troops until the mission's mandate is set to end on 31 December 2024, when Somali Security Forces are expected to fully take over the security responsibilities of the country.

Discussions focused on mitigating the terrorist threat to “regional security, in full cooperation with the Somali National Army, the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the non-ATMIS forces in Somalia,” the Somali Information Ministry said in a statement.

The United Nations has warned of growing instability in the country, issuing periodic reports last year that detailed attacks by al-Shabaab and pro-Daesh/ISIS terror groups.

Under increasing pressure due to Somalia’s security operations, al-Shabaab has intensified attacks in the country in recent days, targeting security personnel, military bases, and government sites.