Before reporting to the U.S. diplomatic mission to Somalia last month, the new ambassador, Donald Yamamoto, visited Minnesota's international community.
His dialogue in Minnesota has since taken on new meaning for Somali-Americans in the state, which has the nation's largest Somali community. The State Department said this week that it will re-establish a "permanent diplomatic presence" in Somalia for the first time in more than a quarter-century.
"The community feels like we have been heard and we have been listened to," said Jibril Afyare, president of the Somali-American Citizens League, who helped facilitate Yamamoto's visit.
The U.S. described the policy shift a reflection of Somalia's recent progress and an important step toward diplomatic engagement in Mogadishu, the country's capital, which hasn't had a U.S. Embassy since the central government collapsed during a civil war in 1991.
Abdi Samatar, a University of Minnesota professor, credited an increased willingness among citizens to invest in improving Somalia's infrastructure for paving the way for a diplomatic move he described as positive and symbolic. But, he said, "Unless there is a seriousness in Mogadishu on the Somali side, this may come to naught in many ways."
Corruption still plagues the government, Samatar said. Transparency International, a nongovernmental organization based in Germany, recently ranked Somalia worst among all countries in its Corruption Perceptions Index, citing "weak public institutions, internal conflict and deep instability."
Meanwhile, the al-Shabab terrorist group continues to wreak havoc with regular attacks along Mogadishu's principal thoroughfares. A truck bombing killed nearly 600 people last year in Somalia's deadliest-ever terrorist attack. No group claimed responsibility for the bombing, but officials suspect a link to al-Shabab. Bringing that group under control and achieving a sense of stability will remain a top priority for Somalis abroad and for their relatives in Minnesota, Samatar said.
"I just think the psychological boost for the community will be tremendous if Somalia comes back to be a normal country," Samatar said.
Expectations already are high in Minnesota after the State Department's announcement Tuesday, said Democratic state Rep.-elect Mohamud Noor.
"The road map, I think, depends on the people who are governing Somalia, but there is also a stake we can play in terms of ensuring that there is transparency and there is accountability," Noor said.
Noor was elected last month to represent a state House district that includes the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, known for its large Somali population. Noor will replace U.S. Rep.-elect Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who in January will become the first Somali-American in Congress. Both Noor and Afyare said they looked forward to Omar giving the community a seat at the table at a time when diplomacy between the U.S. and Somalia appears ascendant.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said in a statement that Minnesota's Somali community "has contributed so much to the cultural and economic vitality of our state."
"While significant challenges remain toward achieving security and stability in Somalia, the reestablishment of a permanent diplomatic presence will strengthen our relationship with the Government of Somalia," Klobuchar said.
Until recently, the U.S. ran its diplomatic mission from neighboring Kenya. The U.S. has sought to re-establish its diplomatic presence in Somalia since 2015, two years after recognizing the country's new government.
Afyare said that now that the U.S. has achieved that goal, Somalia is a step closer to becoming part of the international community.
"Progress is something we are proud of," Afyare said.
