Somalia leader heads for Minn. amid US recognition

Published 10:29 am Friday, January 18, 2013

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A day after the U.S. recognized Somalia’s government for the first time in two decades, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is coming to visit the diaspora in Minnesota.

Mohamud planned Friday to speak about security in Somalia, which has been plagued by the terrorist organization al-Shabab. Other topics were to include the country’s economic outlook and efforts to rebuild the war-torn country.

His speech to a crowd expected to number in the thousands comes after a key milestone this week.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the change in diplomatic posture on Thursday when the Somali leader was in Washington. While there, he also met privately with President Barack Obama.

Minnesota has one of the country’s largest populations of people of Somali descent.