Nigerian Boko Haram trained in Somalia - Somalia President

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said at a press conference in Germany that Nigeria’s Islamist militant group Boko Haram was trained in Somalia before returning to West Africa where they have killed thousands of people.

It is however not clear if Al Shabaab is still training Boko Haram fighters.

Hassan Mohamud made the remarks at the 52nd Munich Security Conference in Germany attended by 30 heads of state.

The Somali leader in his introductory speech, focused on the security situation in the region and the fight against terrorist groups like Al Shabaab.

“The new phenomenon Daesh has been there in Somalia, but Daesh and Al-Shabaab, which is affiliated to Al Qaeda, are in conflict. Maybe Somalia is lucky enough to have that war between Al Qaeda, represented by Al-Shabaab, and Daesh,” he said.

Pres.HSM: #Somalia welcomes UK support on security,capacity building & progress to stable electoral process pic.twitter.com/hlGWbc2Yht

— Villa Somalia (@TheVillaSomalia) February 13, 2016

The Somalian President also held series of meetings with heads of delegations and officials attending the conference in an effort to strengthen ties to help with the country’s recovery.

Somalia, plagued by political in-fighting, corruption and attacks by al Shabaab insurgents, has recently made limited progress towards creating a functioning political system, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said.