An international donor conference will be co-hosted by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, along with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia. Prominent figures are in London for a gathering that will open on Tuesday. Delegates from 50 countries and a number of major international organizations are expected to participate. The first set of talks was completed in February of this year.
The Prime Minister has released a statement saying that the Somali people will be given the support that they need “every step of the way,” as they commit themselves to forging a new future.
Urgent need
Civil war has torn Somalia apart since 1991. The urgency of the need for the conference is evident now more than ever. The gathering comes in the wake of a recent suicide bombing that caused the death of 11 people. A car full of explosives was driven straight through a government convoy. The militant group that have Al-Qaeda carried out this attack as well as a number of others in the past few months was driven out of Mogadishu in August 2011 but a cell must still be operational within the country.
Support system
Cameron will call for a definitive long-term plan that will end more than two decades of conflict in Somalia. But the main aim of the conference is to organize and coordinate a support system for Somalia’s institutions so that the risk for lawlessness is decreased. A violent support system would be needed by an administrative body that is backed by the United Nations which has taken over in September 2012.
PM Cameron’s opening speech
Prime Minister David Cameron will open the conference. He will address the group with a warning that if there is failure to support the rebuilding of Somalia the region would face “terrorism and mass migration.” Cameron will also call for support so that Somalia can successfully push back the Shabaab Islamist militants. In a recent statement, the prime minister called the most recent attacks despicable and tragic.
Cameron will also remind the conference participants of the huge amount of work that is still required in order to triumph against extremism and terrorism. In his opening speech, Cameron will highlight the fact that these issues are not relevant to Somalia alone, but for the rest of the international community as well.
Political and financial assistance
The London conference is capitalizing on the progress made by the government that is in place in Somalia and assist in its efforts to facilitate political stability. The draft communiqué also states clearly that there is an urgent need to provide financial assistance to Somalia but at the same time recognizes the necessity of transparency and financial accountability.
Essential partners
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), the African Union, and the United Nations are some of the key participants in the international conference for Somalia. Neighboring African nations also expected to attend. Kenya for one has been identified as s vital partner as the country has been providing thousands of men in the fight against the Shabaab Islamist militants. The newly elected President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta is already in London.
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