MOGADISHU, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Somalia's Ministry of Defense hosted a high-level delegation from the African Union Counter Terrorism Center (AUCTC) on Tuesday to discuss strategies for deepening security cooperation and countering violent extremism across the region.
The ministry said the meeting aimed to review ongoing joint initiatives and coordinate counter-terrorism efforts.
"Discussions focused on strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation, assessing the capabilities and needs of national institutions, and improving coordination of efforts to counter terrorism," the ministry said in a statement issued after the meeting in Mogadishu.
During the meeting, Somalia's State Minister for Defense Omar Ali Abdi stressed that African Union support must directly reinforce Somalia's strategic goals for security and stabilization.
Abdi also noted the value of drawing on Somalia's counter-terrorism experience to strengthen the African Union's efforts to prevent and combat terrorism.
The meeting came after the AUCTC team launched its first national counter-terrorism assessment mission in Somalia on Monday, initiating comprehensive talks with Somali officials on national defense capabilities, intelligence sharing, and strategies to disrupt illicit financial networks.
The primary objectives of the mission are to evaluate Somalia's existing defense infrastructure, review key operational achievements of national institutions, and identify critical areas requiring technical support and capacity building. ■