Joint statement on the latest security advancements in Somalia
The United States, European Union, and United Kingdom Welcome Security Advances by Joint AMISOM and Somali Security Forces to Liberate Jalalaqsi, Bulo Mareer, and Kurtunwaray
Neil Wigan, UK Ambassador to Somalia
United States Representative for Somalia James P. McAnulty, European Union Ambassador Michele Cervone d’Urso, and British Ambassador to Somalia Neil Wigan congratulate the Federal Government of Somalia and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for the latest security advancements made during the recently-launched AMISOM/Somali Security Forces offensive “Operation Indian Ocean.” The liberation of the key towns of Jalalaqsi, Bulo Mareer, and Kurtunwaray delivered significant blows to the al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group, al-Shabaab, denying al-Shabaab critical recruitment and staging grounds for future attacks.
The European Union, United Kingdom, and United States remain fully committed to support the Federal Government of Somalia and African Union in their joint efforts to restore stability, prosperity, and quality governance in the newly-liberated areas. We look forward to further successes of Operation Indian Ocean as joint Somali/AMISOM forces work tirelessly to liberate key towns and regions previously under al-Shabaab control, in order to ensure a better life for all Somali people. These operations, and the sacrifices made by these forces for the Somali people, will help to ultimately defeat al-Shabaab.