WASHINGTON (AP) – The leader of a Minnesota Somali advocacy organization says years of bungled policy by the United States and other western nations has led to the current chaos in Somalia.

Omar Jamal is the executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center. He spoke at the National Press Club in Washington on Wednesday.

Jamal says in recent years the United States has only engaged Somalia when it needs or wants something. He says that has hurt the chances of a lasting, strong central government and has led to both a rise in Islamic radicalism and pirate culture in the country.

Jamal says the United States and other countries need to help facilitate a grass roots movement for stability in the country.

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