US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is on her way Kenya, to begin an 11-day tour of the African continent.
Her trip will include South Africa, Nigeria, Liberia and Angola and she will meet Somali leaders in Kenya.
The visit, her longest overseas journey in her post to date, is part of an attempt by the US to show that Africa remains a key foreign policy priority.
Development issues - including food security, health and gender concerns - are expected to be high on the agenda.
Mrs Clinton's trip comes less than a month after US President Barack Obama travelled to Ghana.
Somali hopes
Ahead of her arrival on Tuesday, the US embassy in Nairobi issued a statement scolding Kenya for its decision not to set up a local court to seek justice for the victims of the country's post-election violence. At least 1,300 people died during clashes following the disputed December 2007 poll.
Meanwhile Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed said the meeting with Mrs Clinton in Kenya would be "a golden chance for the Somali people and government".
"It signals how the American government, the Obama administration and the international community are willing to support Somalia this time," he said, referring to earlier failed peacekeeping missions to the country.
Her trip will include South Africa, Nigeria, Liberia and Angola and she will meet Somali leaders in Kenya.
The visit, her longest overseas journey in her post to date, is part of an attempt by the US to show that Africa remains a key foreign policy priority.
Development issues - including food security, health and gender concerns - are expected to be high on the agenda.
Mrs Clinton's trip comes less than a month after US President Barack Obama travelled to Ghana.
Somali hopes
Ahead of her arrival on Tuesday, the US embassy in Nairobi issued a statement scolding Kenya for its decision not to set up a local court to seek justice for the victims of the country's post-election violence. At least 1,300 people died during clashes following the disputed December 2007 poll.
Meanwhile Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed said the meeting with Mrs Clinton in Kenya would be "a golden chance for the Somali people and government".
"It signals how the American government, the Obama administration and the international community are willing to support Somalia this time," he said, referring to earlier failed peacekeeping missions to the country.
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