US clears way to arm Somali forces

April 8, 2013 @ 3:46 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is clearing the way for the United States to provide arms to Somalia's government. It's part of a normalization of relations between the U.S. and Somalia.

Obama said in a memo Monday that he's determined that providing defense equipment and services to Somalia will strengthen U.S. security and promote peace.

The move doesn't provide new assistance to Somalia right away. But it lets Secretary of State John Kerry consider taking those steps in the future.

Somalia is trying to establish its first functional government after two decades of chaos since 1991. That's when warlords overthrew longtime dictator Siad Barre and then turned on one another.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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