World leaders see "turning point" for Somalia

By Anna Tomforde Feb 23, 2012, 18:30 GMT

London - World leaders on Thursday pledged increased support for Somalia's efforts to overcome two decades of political turmoil fuelled by civil war, poverty and terrorism.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, who hosted a high-profile conference of representatives from 50 governments and organizations in London, said the meeting marked a 'turning point' for the crisis-ridden East African state.

Participants had agreed to step up cooperation in seven key areas to bring stability to Somalia, including security, piracy, counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance.

The conference had also 'reinvigorated' the political process in Somalia, where the current transitional government would step down in August, according to its mandate, Cameron said.

Following the 'first signs of fragile progress' in Somalia after 20 years, it should be up to the Somali people to choose a government that was as 'inclusive as possible,' he added.

Meanwhile, Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali surprised participants in a closing news conference with the remark that he would 'welcome targeted airstrikes in Somalia against al-Qaeda.'

Ali, who made the remarks in response to a question, did not elaborate further.

The Guardian newspaper reported earlier this week that Britain and other EU countries had 'considered' airstrikes against the Islamist organization al-Shabaab.

Cameron said progress had also been made on stepping up international efforts to curb piracy off the coast of Somalia.

Tanzania, Mauritius and the Seychelles had agreed to take in suspected pirates and put them on trial in their courts.

The breakaway state of Somaliland had said it was prepared to take pirates into its jails who were currently being held in the Seychelles. The first 19 would be transferred next month.

US Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton said the US government was ready to step up its involvement in Somalia, including establishing a more permanent diplomatic presence in the East African country.

'For decades, the world focused on what we could prevent from happening in Somalia - conflict, famine and terrorism. Now, we are focused on what we can build,' she said.

Her optimism was echoed by other speakers, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who urged the international community to answer Somalia's 'cries for peace.'

The conference had crucially agreed to back economic-social development in Somalia to give hope to young Somalis, he said. 'Why do people go to sea? Because they have no hope,' said Ban.

He urged Somali leaders to establish 'sustainable, credible and indigenous security institutions' and to agree on security arrangements that 'best suit their system of governance.'

On the eve of the conference, the UN Security Council approved a resolution increasing by 5,000 the number of African Union (AU) troops in Somalia, known as AMISOM, to more than 17,000.

'Thanks to the AMISOM troops, we can now see a new horizon where the insurgency gets weaker,' said Ban. 'But these remarkable gains came at a high price.'

Al-Shabaab, which recently announced it was merging with al-Qaeda, has been losing ground across Somalia in the face of concerted pressure from the AU, Kenya, Ethiopia and Somali forces.

Clinton said the US remained 'adamantly' opposed to any negotiations with al-Shabaab, but would cooperate with those who turned their back on the organization.

The US pledged a further 64 million dollars in humanitarian aid to the Horn of Africa, bringing pledges to a total of 934 million dollars.

Britain said it would give an extra 51 million pounds (80 million dollars) in humanitarian aid to help Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia, while Germany pledged the equivalent of 7.9 million dollars.

The European Union, the biggest donor to Somalia, said it would make available a further 133 million dollars to fund the increase in AMISOM troop levels.

Cameron said participants had set up a contact group to prepare the next conference on Somalia, which will be held in Turkey in the summer.

Read more about Great Britain