John Kerry made an unannounced visit to Somalia on Tuesday — the first U.S. secretary of state ever to travel to the country.

The State Department said Kerry’s visit was “to reinforce the United States commitment to supporting Somalia’s ongoing transition to a peaceful democracy.”

 

Kerry was scheduled to hold meetings with federal and regional government officials.

he US backs the Somali government in its fight against Islamist militant group al-Shabab, which still controls many rural parts of southern Somalia.