Credit: Wikipedia Public Domain /  The crew of Super 64 a month before the Battle of Mogadishu 1993.  From left: Winn Mahuron, Tommy Field, Bill Cleveland, Ray Frank and Mike Durant.

By Gary Raynaldo    Diplomatic Times

The United States has re-established a “permanent diplomatic presence” in Somalia for the first time in nearly three decades, the U.S. Department of State announced this week.  “On December 2, for the first time since the closure of the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu on January 5, 1991, the United States reestablished a permanent diplomatic presence in Somalia,” the State Department said.  The U.S. closed its Somalia embassy in January 1991 as the country collapsed into civil war, with the military airlifting out the ambassador and others.  The renewed diplomatic presence in Somalia comes just after the 25-year-anniversary of the  infamous Battle of Mogadishu on Oct. 3-4, 1993, in Somalia.  Twenty five years ago U.S. troops engaged in what has been described as one of the most intense urban combat since Vietnam with heavy casualties reported.  ‘Black Hawk Down’: The sight of dead US soldiers being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu was a turning point in one of the United States’ most high-profile interventions in Africa, the BBC.    The images, broadcast around the world, outraged many.  In October 1993, elite American troops launched a disastrous raid in the Somali capital Mogadishu. Their aim was to capture key allies of the powerful Somali warlord, Gen Mohamed Farah Aideed. But US forces met fierce resistance from Aideed’s militia.  Two US Black Hawk helicopters were shot down.

Credit: BBC NEWS/  Black Hawk Down: The Somali battle that changed US policy in Africa – BBC News

U.S. Says Re-Establishment Of Permanent Diplomatic Presence in Somali Is Step Forward In Formalizing Diplomatic Engagement In Mogadishu

“This historic event reflects Somalia’s progress in recent years and is another step forward in formalizing U.S. diplomatic engagement in Mogadishu since recognizing the Federal Government of Somalia in 2013. Our return demonstrates the United States’ commitment to further advance stability, democracy, and economic development that are in the interest of both nations.”

U.S. Department Of State

The  new Ambassador Donald Yamamoto arrived at the U.S. mission in Mogadishu last month

“Ambassador Donald Yamamoto and his staff look forward to working closely with the people and the Federal Government of Somalia to strengthen our already close bilateral relationship in furtherance of these shared goals,” the State Department said.

Somalia has in recent years faced an insurgency by the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militant group, as well as wide-spread famine and maritime piracy.  At least 53 persons were killed when suicide bombers and gunmen attacked a hotel last month in the Somalia capital city Mogadishu. Attacks were reported on the popular Sahafi Hotel, near the country’s criminal investigations department as two car bombs followed by a scooter bomb exploded in the street outside the hotel.