All districts of Mogadishu were now effectively under the control of the Transitional Federal Government, with the support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), he said while briefing the Council on his unannounced 9 December visit to the Somali capital.

UN: Security Council

He described Union cooperation in Africa, including the deployment of two military operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and one in Chad, as well as a naval operation off the coast of Somalia and assistance for the African Union operation and the Transitional Federal Government in the country.

UN: Security Council

Some have expressed hope that there is still time to facilitate negotiations between the ICU and the displaced Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: An African Taliban

It has waged an insurgency against the feeble Transitional Federal Government since 2007 but has suffered recent setbacks in its heartland in southern Somalia.

CNN: Bomb kills top Somali sports officials

But the final transitional federal government made "unmistakable" progress, Clinton said, with Somali security forces supported by an African Union mission and troops from Uganda, Burundi, Kenya and Djibouti driving Al Shabaab from the nation's cities and towns.

CNN: After more than 2 decades, U.S. recognizes Somalia

In late December, with US backing and support, Ethiopian forces invaded Somalia with forces from the recognized Somali Transitional Federal Government, (TFG).

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The waning of American will

At the base, the new prime minister of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) emerged from the back of an armoured truck, followed by a retinue of aides - one holding a large umbrella over his head.

BBC: Mogadishu machinations: Is the famine an opportunity?

The mandate for Somalia's UN-backed transitional federal government expires in August after eight years of squabbling and rent-seeking.

ECONOMIST: Surprising Somalia