Europe

Boris Johnson in Somalia for surprise visit amid drought

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson helps to load food supplies for treating malnourished children affected by the severe drought in Somalia, onto a cargo plane at the airport in Mogadishu, Somalia Wednesday, March 15, 2017. Johnson made a surprise visit to Somalia on Wednesday for talks with the country's new president as a worsening drought threatens millions of people in the Horn of Africa nation. (Karel Prinsloo/UNICEF via AP) (The Associated Press)

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson poses with food supplies for treating malnourished children affected by the severe drought in Somalia, before they were loaded onto a cargo plane at the airport in Mogadishu, Somalia Wednesday, March 15, 2017. Johnson made a surprise visit to Somalia on Wednesday for talks with the country's new president as a worsening drought threatens millions of people in the Horn of Africa nation. (Karel Prinsloo/UNICEF via AP) (The Associated Press)

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson helps to load food supplies for treating malnourished children affected by the severe drought in Somalia, onto a cargo plane at the airport in Mogadishu, Somalia Wednesday, March 15, 2017. Johnson made a surprise visit to Somalia on Wednesday for talks with the country's new president as a worsening drought threatens millions of people in the Horn of Africa nation. (Karel Prinsloo/UNICEF via AP) (The Associated Press)

A Somali presidential aide confirms that British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has arrived in Mogadishu for a surprise visit and is holding talks with Somalia's new president.

The aide declined to be named Wednesday morning because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Johnson is meeting at the airport with Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, who was elected last month.

Britain is appealing for aid for Somalia's drought, which has been declared a national disaster.