US re-established its embassy in Somalia after nearly three decades

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United States has reopened its embassy in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, nearly three decades after it was shut as the Horn of Africa nation plunged into civil war.

Washington closed its embassy during the 1991 overthrow of then-President Siad Barre's military regime which ushered in decades of chaos. However, diplomatic relations have strengthened in recent years.

"Today we reaffirm the relations between the American people and the Somali people, and our two nations," said Donald Yamamoto, the US ambassador to Somalia, in a statement on Wednesday. 

"It is a significant and historic day that reflects Somalia's progress in recent years, and another step forward in regularising US diplomatic engagement in Mogadishu since recognising the federal government of Somalia in 2013," he added. 

A permanent diplomatic presence was established in Mogadishu in December 2018, but was operated out of Nairobi in neighboring Kenya.

In his statement, Yamamoto noted that the US embassy in Mogadishu "will act to enhance cooperation, advance US national strategic interests, and support our overall security, political, and economic development goals and objectives."

Source: Al Jazeera Media Network.

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