The commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) General David J. Furness has visited Somalia’s southern port town Kismayo and met President Of Jubbaland Axmed Madoobe

The commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) General David J. Furness has visited Somalia’s southern port town and met regional authorities on Thursday as fresh offensive on Al-Shabab controlled towns signaled.
General Furness together with commander of the U.S naval force for the Somalia coast and African Union in Somalia Force Commander met with Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islan (Madobe).
According to a statement to the newsrooms, Mr. Madobe and the U.S. AFRICOM commander stressed the need for air and intelligence support for the regional troops on the onset of upcoming operation which is aimed to the liberation of areas in Middle and Lower Jubba provinces currently under Al-Shabab control.
“The discussion focused on a soon-to-begin counter terror operation in Middle Jubba and parts of Lower Jubba.” The statement from Madobe’s office added.
The visit by General Furness comes amid ongoing preparations by local security forces in Jubbaland to carry fresh land offensive on Al-Shabab strongholds. Last week, President Madobe toured newly trained forces in Kismayo barracks.
The U.S Africa Command currently supports Somalia’s war on the al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabab.
In early April, U.S defense ministry, The Pentagon announced that dozens of Special Forces and counter-terror advisers were deployed into Somalia to train Somalia National Army and carry out assaults on terror group Al-Shabab. The U.S Special Forces and their Somali counterparts Danab have recently carried numerous covert operations against Al-Shabab bases in the southern regions in Somalia.
In March, the U.S President Donald Trump also declared parts of Somalia as war zone.
The U.S Special Forces are stationed at bases located in the airports in Mogadishu, Balli-dogle, Kismayo and Galkayo.