Kerry Becomes First US Diplomat to Visit Somalia

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made an unannounced trip to Somalia Tuesday. He's the first U.S. diplomat ever to visit the country.

Kerry met with Somalia's president and other regional leaders at the airport in Mogadishu, Somalia's capital.

"This is a very important moment for Somalia," Kerry said. "Great progress has been made, and you have all contributed to that progress ... most importantly, obviously, the need to provide your citizens with the safety and security that they want and need."

"We very much look forward to working with you towards building credible elections, towards the building of a national army, and towards the ability of Somalia to serve as a model for its ability to rebuild and reclaim its own future," he added.

Kerry's brief visit comes a day after extensive counterterrorism and refugee talks with Kenya's government. Authorities there are scrambling to combat Somalia's al-Shabab terrorists.

Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for last month's massacre at Kenya's Garissa University College. Many Christian students were among the 148 people killed in the attack.