KISMAAYO, Somalia — Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam, widely known as Ahmed Madobe, hosted U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Richard H. Riley in Kismayo on Friday for talks centered on security coordination and U.S.-supported development projects, according to regional officials.
The working visit brought together senior members of the Jubaland administration, including the Interior Minister and the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation. Participants discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and align priorities as Somalia confronts a resilient insurgency and works to advance regional stability.
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Officials from Jubaland said the briefing emphasized tighter coordination of national security operations amid ongoing campaigns against Al-Shabaab militants. The focus, they noted, was to ensure that counterterrorism efforts and stabilization initiatives proceed in lockstep with local governance and service delivery for communities most affected by violence.
Ambassador Riley underscored the political dimension of the security push, pointing to the need for cohesion among Somalia’s political stakeholders. In a brief social media post after the meeting, he wrote: “Today in Kismayo, I met with the President of Jubaland to discuss the importance of national unity to fight terrorism for the benefit of the people of Jubaland and all of Somalia.”
The United States and Jubaland have maintained steady cooperation on security assistance and development programming in the region. Friday’s discussions were viewed by regional officials as a reinforcement of that partnership at a time when Somali authorities are seeking to consolidate gains from security operations while expanding access to basic services.
While no new commitments were publicly announced, the talks highlighted several persistent priorities: improving the effectiveness of joint security initiatives, bolstering governance at the regional level, and maintaining momentum on U.S.-backed development efforts designed to stabilize liberated areas and support local livelihoods.
The meeting also touched on the broader political context in Somalia, with attention to how coordination between federal and regional authorities can support both security and development goals. Jubaland officials framed the conversation as part of a continuing effort to align local needs with national strategies and international support.
Diplomatic engagements of this kind have become a routine part of Somalia’s security and development landscape, offering a platform to assess progress, identify gaps, and calibrate assistance. In Kismayo, the emphasis on unity and coordinated action reflected a shared recognition that gains against insurgents must be matched by governance, reconciliation, and sustained investment in communities.
Neither side provided further details on timelines or specific programmatic expansions. However, both the public messaging and the composition of the meeting — blending security, interior, and planning portfolios — signaled a whole-of-government approach aimed at boosting the effectiveness of ongoing operations and the durability of recovery efforts.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
