US embassy in Somalia welcomes new President Joe Biden

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The US embassy in Somalia has welcomed incoming President Joe Biden, lauding his immense experience in foreign policy, which dates back many years, given his time as both the US Senator and the Vice President of the United States of America.

Biden, 78, will on Wednesday become the oldest person to have ever assumed the office of the president once he takes over from Donald Trump, a rather divisive Republican figure, whose tenure was widely criticized by immigrants, who felt discriminated.

Trump had refused to concede defeat in November and has vowed to ensure that he doesn't show up during official handing over later today. However, Vice President Mike Pence said he will be witnessing the smooth transition of power.

In a tweet, the US embassy in Somalia under Ambassador Donald Yamamoto noted Biden's desire to unite the country, which was a bit polarized following campaigns waged by the Republicans and Democrats. The embassy said the new president will prosper.

"Joe Biden, former vice president, and senator take office on Jan. 20 as the 46th president of the United States. He campaigned on uniting the country and addressing pressing problems," read the tweet.

Biden plans to focus during the early part of his administration on uniting the country and addressing pressing problems such as the COVID-19 pandemic, good-paying jobs, racial injustice, and climate change.

“Let us be the nation that we know we can,” Biden said in his victory speech. “A nation united, a nation strengthened. A nation healed. The United States of America, ladies, and gentlemen, there’s never, never been anything we’ve tried we’ve not been able to do.”

The new president takes over just five days after the US withdrew her troops from Somalia and repositioned them elsewhere in East Africa, a move which had been opposed by the government of Somalia. The soldiers however have been carrying out airstrikes against Al-Shabaab militants with the latest coming on January 19.

It's not clear if President Biden will revoke the decision by Donald Trump but there is no doubt that he will also be under pressure to continue with campaigns against violent extremism. The US is critical in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants.

GAROWE ONLINE