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Laura Yuen
ST. PAUL, Minn.

Somalia's president in Minneapolis

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Somalia's new president on Friday will urge his Somali-born compatriots in Minneapolis to help rebuild their homeland.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's visit comes just a day after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the U.S. is formally recognizing the Somali government for the first time in more than two decades.

In Washington, Mohamud met with Clinton, President Barack Obama, and members of Congress, including Keith Ellison. Mohamud is visiting to Minnesota to address the nation's largest Somali diaspora community.

He told the Center for Strategic and International Studies that despite more than 20 years of civil war, his country is safer now. He made a direct appeal to Somali Americans.

"Your technical know-how, your expertise, is what we need in Somalia," Mohamud said. "The dilemma we Somalis, both diaspora and those who are inside Somalia, are facing is that you guys are waiting [for a] stable Somalia so you can go back. And Somalia is waiting for you to stabilize. So, which comes first?"

Mohamud is expected to address a crowd of thousands at 5 p.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

• Follow Laura Yuen on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/laura_yuen