USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah became the highest-ranking
U.S. official to visit Somalia in more than 20 years Thursday, when he visited
the country and pledged increased support for its fragile government.
Shah spent five hours Thursday in the Mogadishu airport
complex, the most secure part of Somalia's capital, but used his time
efficiently, meeting with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Abdi
Farah Shirdon, Foreign Minister Fowsiyo Yussuf Haji Aadan, and aid groups. Shah
announced an additional $20 in humanitarian assistance for Somalia.
"Throughout this time, the Somali people endured the
unendurable - violence, fear, hunger, and disease -- but they also came
together to build something new - a foundation that would anchor a stable
future for Somalia," Shah said in a statement. "For years, USAID has
been proud to stand by the reformers -- the Somalis who fought for peace and a
better life for the children. We have worked not only to meet emergency needs,
but also to support long-term community efforts to rebuild the neighborhoods,
rebuild livelihoods and rebuild their confidence in their government."
The stop was part of Shah's tour of the region, which
will includes stops in Tanzania and Kenya. He visited Dar es Salaam, Tanzania,
on Feb. 20 and met with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Prime Minister
Mizengo Pinda, and Minister of Energy and Minerals Sospeter Muhongo. After his
stop in Somalia, Shah went to Nairobi, Kenya and met with the National Bunge
Youth Association.
In an interview with the AP in Kenya, Shah said his
Somalia visit was a signal of the desire of the U.S. government to work with Somalia's
new government to create a more hopeful future for the Somali people.
"America is prepared and committed to stand with the
people of Somalia and their new, now-recognized and legitimate government as it
tries to build both peace and prosperity, and the task of building peace and
prosperity in an environment that has been plagued with extreme ideology and
threat, famine and drought," Shah told the AP.
Earlier this week, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first
Muslim elected to Congress, also visited Mogadishu and spent some time at the
airport complex meeting with Mohamud as well as members of the business
community and expat community. Ellison called The Cable from the region to
report that he was hopeful about the prospects of a stable and democratic
Somalia.
"Though things are still fragile, there are definite
reasons to hope that Somalia is going to continue to democratize and strengthen
its institutions," Ellison said. "The bottom line is that people feel
that Somalia has a window of opportunity, if it can get some help from the
international community it can put years of chaos behind it."
Ellison is also working on the issue of allowing Somali
immigrants living in the United States, many of which are in Minnesota, to more
easily send money back to their families in Somalia. Ellison has introduced
legislation to consolidate audits and regulatory oversight to streamline
remittances.
Last month, Mohamud pleaded for more U.S. support in an
interview with The Cable during his visit to Washington. The U.S. government
recognized the Somali government during his visit and pledged to begin the
process of reestablishing formal diplomatic ties.
Ellison said that although there have been more than a
dozen attempts to stand the Somali government on its feet over the past two
decades, he was confident that increased U.S. support for Mohamud's government
would yield benefits for both countries.
"This administration in Mogadishu has convinced me
that they are a good investment," said Ellison. "This one is the real
deal."
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