Wednesday May 25, 2022
US Army General Stephen Townsend, commander, US Africa
Command, has wrapped up a multi-country trip to the East Africa region and
Angola.
During his travels between 11 and 20 May, he visited
civilian and military leaders in Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Angola.
The trip provided US Africa Command leaders the opportunity to meet with
civilian and military leaders in each nation to underscore the importance of
partnership to confronting regional threats and achieving shared security
goals, Africom said.
The first stop of the trip was in Hargeisa, Somalialand,
where Townsend and US Ambassador to Somalia Larry André, Jr. Hearne met with
Muse Bihi Abdi, President of Somaliland to discuss expanded and enriched
partnership.
Townsend also travelled to Berbera and Mogadishu, where he
met with Somalia Chief of Defence Forces Brigadier General Odawa Yusuf Rage and
African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) Force Commander, Lieutenant
General Diomede Ndegeya. Townsend also conducted a routine battlefield
circulation and recognized joint service members at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
In Djibouti, Townsend presided over the Combined Joint Task
Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) change of command ceremony where Major
General Bill Zana passed responsibility to Major General Jami Shawley.
“I came to Djibouti, the only permanent US base in Africa,
to change command of CJTF-Horn of Africa from one great leader to another,”
Townsend said. “Stability and security in East Africa is an important US
national security interest and no one has been more dedicated to that than
Major General Bill Zana. Bill’s leadership at CJTF-HOA, has been instrumental
in achieving US objectives in East Africa and maintaining our superb, long-term
relationship with our Djiboutian partners. I’m optimistic for the future as
Major General Jami Shawley assumes command of CJTF-HOA. I know she will
continue our mission to maintain pressure on terrorists and other malign actors
in this region and continue to engage with our African and international
partners who are so critical to our collective success.”
In Kenya, Townsend and US Chargé d’Affaires to Kenya Eric W
Kneedler met with Kenyan President Uruhu Kenyatta to discuss mutual security
concerns and to express appreciation to Kenya for its continued leadership and
collaboration on regional security. Townsend and Kneedler also participated in
a pass and review at the Kenyan Defence Force Headquarters.
Townsend then travelled to Angola where he accompanied US
Ambassador to Angola Tulinabo S Mushingi during a meeting with Angolan
President João Lourenço. This marked Townsend’s first trip to Angola, which
signed an agreement five years ago with the US to deepen defence cooperation.
During his visit, the leaders’ conversations sharpened focus on mutual security
concerns, and Townsend expressed appreciation for the opportunity to find
additional ways to strengthen the relationship with Angola.
Townsend’s final stop on the trip was to Rwanda, where he
and US Chargé d’Affaires to Rwanda Deb MacLean met with Rwandan President Paul
Kagame. Townsend expressed appreciation for Rwanda’s long-standing partnership
with the United States, to include the long-standing cooperation with the state
partnership program between Rwanda and the Nebraska National Guard, as a
demonstration of Rwanda’s vision for a stable, security and prosperous Africa.