Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to both witnesses for being here and giving your insights on this situation and the ongoing crisis in Somalia.
We had witnesses who came yesterday, Mr. Menkhaus and Mr. Spears, and they elaborated on weak national state structures. As we can see, during independence in 1960, those state structures weren't very solid and they were very weak. There was anarchy during the civil war and the government fell at the time, so we see a failed state.
How do we ensure that we strengthen these state structures? Al Shabaab is controlling large quarters in Somalia. They have been able to recruit a lot of young adults. Ms. Abdulkadir, you mentioned that the recruitment has doubled since 2016. The African Union has been ineffective in some ways and the Government of Somalia has been ineffective to ensure that al Shabaab doesn't control large quarters of Somalia.
How can we strengthen these state structures whether, as you mentioned, local structures, regional structures, and even at the national level?