US reopens its embassy in Somalia after three decades

The US said it reopened an embassy in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, almost three decades after it was shut as a result of civil war in the country.

Washington closed its embassy in 1991 during a conflict that led to president Siad Barre’s military regime being overthrown, ushering in decades of chaos.

But diplomatic relations between Mogadishu and Washington have improved.

The US formally recognised Somalia’s federal government in 2013 but the American diplomatic mission remained in neighbouring Kenya.

“Today we reaffirm the relations between the American people and the Somali people and our two nations,” said US ambassador to Somalia, Donald Yamamoto.

“It is a historic day that reflects Somalia’s progress and another step forward in regularising US diplomatic engagement in Mogadishu since recognising the federal government of Somalia,” he said.

Insurgents continue to operate in Somalia and fighters from Al Shabab, a militant group with links to Al Qaeda, on Monday attacked a military base used as a launch site for US drone operations, as well as an EU convoy.

US strikes in Somalia increased in April 2017, after President Donald Trump said the south of the country was an “area of active hostilities”.

On Tuesday, rights groups accused the US military of killing three civilians in an air strike on March 18 and of failing to investigate claims those killed were farmers with no ties to Al Shabab.

Amnesty International said its investigations revealed those killed in the strike were civilians, despite US Africa Command saying the men were extremists.

This year, the US stepped up drone strikes in Somalia against what it says are fighters from Al Shabab and ISIS.