U.S. defense officials have concluded a successful visit to Benin and Côte d'Ivoire, focused on reinforcing defense and security cooperation with our key partners in Coastal West Africa. The delegation, led by Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Maureen Farrell, and U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, engaged in high-level discussions with senior defense leaders in both nations to enhance regional stability and address critical security challenges.

The Department of Defense’s Combating Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) Program Management Office (PMO) conducted a site visit to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), aiming to address the significant challenges of human trafficking, including child soldiering, across Africa.

On Dec. 24, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a precision airstrike approximately 10km southwest of Quyno Barrow that resulted in the death of senior al-Shabaab leader, Mohamed Mire and another al-Shabaab militant.

In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike against the al-Shabaab militant network in Somalia on Dec. 24, 2024.