Russia has expressed its willingness to offer support in the form of military instructors and advisers to the Somali army in its ongoing battle against terrorist groups. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General Alexander Fomin recently visited the Somali capital of Mogadishu and met with Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmaajo” to discuss the country’s security situation. Russia has agreed to provide training to Somali troops in the areas of counter-terrorism and the use of advanced Russian military hardware. The decision comes as the Somali government is stepping up its efforts to fight al-Shabab, an Islamic militant group in the country that has carried out numerous terrorist attacks in the region. In addition, Russia has stated that it is ready to help with the stabilization of the Somali economy and to provide humanitarian aid.