US Ambassador to Somalia Discloses Plan to Move Mission to Mogadishu From Nairobi

United States Ambassador to Somalia Donald Yamamoto on Friday disclosed that the U.S Mission to Somalia located at the U.S embassy in Nairobi, Kenya would soon be moved to Mogadishu.

In an interview with Voice of America (VOA), Yamamoto stated that the move could take place before the end of the year.

The U.S has not had a diplomatic mission in Somalia since the closure of the embassy in 1991 as the country descended into war.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries are maintained through the mission based at the Nairobi embassy.

During a visit to Somalia in 2015, former US Secretary of State John Kerry announced plans to re-open the embassy in Mogadishu.
At the time, he noted that the move lacked a set timeline but asserted that the US had began upgrading its diplomatic presence in Somalia.
He was presented with a real estate deed for land set aside by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) for the new embassy compound.

On November 17th, newly appointed ambassador Yamamoto officially presented his credentials to Somali President Mohamed “Farmaajo” Abdullah Mohamed in Mogadishu.

They pledged to work together in several areas including security, education, economic development, democracy and governance.

Prior to his appointment as ambassador by President Donald Trump, Yamamoto served as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs until July 23, 2018.

SOURCE: KENYANS