Commander of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), Gen. Dagvin Anderson, has begun the first leg of a series of high-level visits to Africa, with stops in Ethiopia and in Somalia’s member states of Somaliland and Puntland.
In a statement on Monday, AFRICOM said Gen. Anderson’s message underscores that the United States supports “maximum pressure” on ISIS, al-Shabaab, and other violent extremist organizations.
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The trip aligned with President Trump’s priorities and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s guidance is part of a renewed push to reinforce Washington’s commitment to counterterrorism operations across the continent, with an emphasis on protecting the U.S. homeland.
“The whole reason I came here is because we have shared threats,” Anderson said. “I’m not new to this region; I understand what the issues are, and we’re here to help empower our African partners to address these threats in a united way,” the statement reads.
During his trip, Anderson met with government leaders to advance what AFRICOM described as a “laser-focused” approach to confronting terrorism through burden sharing, deeper cooperation, and aligned security priorities.
In Ethiopia, he met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Chief of Defense, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula Gelelcha, to discuss the growing threat posed by ISIS and al-Shabaab.
In Somaliland, Anderson met with President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, Brig. Gen. Niman Yusuf Osman, chief of general staff of the Somaliland Armed Forces, and Adm. Ahmed Hurre Hariye, commander of the Somaliland Coast Guard. He also traveled to the port city of Berbera to assess the security environment and review the port’s operational capacity.
In Puntland, Anderson’s final stop, he met with Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugatoor, Gen. Adan Abdi Hashi, chief of the Puntland Defense Forces, and other senior officials to accelerate efforts against terrorism. He praised Puntland’s ongoing maximum-pressure campaign against ISIS in the Golis Mountains, commending progress but stressing the need to intensify operations.
Across all engagements, Anderson reiterated that countering extremist groups is a shared responsibility and that no single nation can confront these threats alone. He reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to backing African partner forces that are registering measurable gains.
“As we face the growing security threats, including the rise of terrorist activities in East Africa, the Sahel, and West Africa’s coastal regions, the collective efforts are more important than ever.” Anderson said. “Together we can build a more prosperous and secure future for the United States, for Africa and most importantly, for our children.”
AFRICOM concluded that Africa remains a theater on which the U.S. cannot afford to lose focus a complex and evolving environment where security challenges extend beyond the continent, shaping European and global stability, including the security of the United States.
