Britain to back £50million pot for Mogadishu security

[Saalax]

Britain to back £50million pot for Somalia as Cameron warns of security threat to the UK

London hosts international conference on ending two decades of conflict

David Cameron warns radlicalism is 'poisoning young Somali minds'

Almost 50 governments and global bodies meet to agree on new help

By MATT CHORLEY, MAILONLINE POLITICAL EDITOR

 

 

 

Britain is to back a £50million fund to improve security in Somalia.

David Cameron said the international community had to to 'get right behind' the rebuilding of the war-torn country or risk fuelling terrorism and mass migration.After hosting an international conference in London, the Prime Minister warned radicalism was 'poisoning young Somali minds' which posed a threat to UK security.

 

 

Britain, China, the United States and South Africa are among the countries which have agreed to contribute to the £50 million funding pot.The money will be used to build up the army, police force and strengthen maritime security.Mr Cameron said there had been 'remarkable' progress since the first meeting of world leaders last year but warned that 'huge challenges' remain.

 

 

He told a press conference: 'If we ignore it we will be making the same mistakes in Somalia that we made in Afghanistan in the 1990s. I'm not prepared to let that happen.'

 

 

Almost 50 governments and global bodies such as the IMF gathered at the conference to hear Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud outline his plans to stabilise the country after two decades of brutal civil war.

A year on from the last such meeting in London the world was 'seeing the beginnings of a new future for Somalia', Mr Cameron said.Extremism was 'in retreat' as the al Shabaab militias were driven from more towns, piracy attacks were down 80 per cent and a 'proper, legitimate' government had been put in place alongside a clan-selected parliament, he noted.The capital Mogadishu is starting to return to more normal life - with petrol stations, supermarkets and international flights returning for the first time since 1991 - despite continued terrorist attacks by extremists such as a suicide car bomb which killed several civilians last week.Ending poverty and the lure of payment by extremists was 'the best antidote to extremism', he said.But help had to go well beyond humanitarian aid, he said, pledging £10 million of UK support for developing Somalia's armed forces, £14.5 million to boost police numbers and train judges and financial support for a maritime radio system to counter piracy.'I hope that others here will contribute too and the countries in the region will stay the course and work with Somalia while it builds up its own forces.'At present, it relies on the help of Ethiopian and African Union military support to combat al Shabaab.The PM said the international community had to send a 'strong signal' to world financial institutions to help Somalis deal with debt and get access to finance now it has a government recognised by the US and other key players for the first time in more than two decades.And al Shabaab extremists who renounced violence should be able to join the political process.Earlier Mr Cameron had talks with young members of the Somali diaspora and said he wanted to make their country sufficiently safe for those who wished to return and help with the rebuilding process.

[Saalax]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2320822/Britain-50million-pot-Somalia-Cameron-warns-security-threat-UK.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

[xiinfaniin]

I think this is quite tangible development...building up the army is essential to let AMISOM withdraw eventually

[Wadani]

But some will cry that it's an HAG army.

[Saalax]

In Mogadishu, demonstrators waved placards and photos of Mr Cameron and Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud urging them to reach an international agreement.

 

[Saalax]

xiinfaniin;946960 wrote:

I think this is quite tangible development...building up the army is essential to let AMISOM withdraw eventually

 

I agree. In order for the rest of south Somalia to be peaceful, Mogadishu security should be tightened.

[Saalax]

Wadani;946961 wrote:

But some will cry that it's an HAG army.

 

[xiinfaniin]

Wadani;946961 wrote:

But some will cry that it's an HAG army.

Not if managed well and the army is drawn from all parts of the country , and existing regional forces are absorbed as well.

[oba hiloowlow]

xiinfaniin;946983 wrote:

Not if managed well and the army is drawn from all parts of the country ,

and existing regional forces are absorbed as well.

yeah but ciidamada waa in la qarameeyo leyskuna dhafo we cant have clan militias forever

[xiinfaniin]

As apparent in this short discussion some in Somalia are more reasonable than others , that is why their argument always prevails

 

What is wrong with absorbing existing regional forces into the national army in a gradual manner ?

[Mad_Mullah]

How much money are the other tribes getting?

[Waranle_Warrior]

Well first of all 50 million is not a lot, secondly very minimal percentage of it goes to the rebuilding of the army as most of the money will go to humanitarian, IDPs, development, building proper judiciary systems and reconstruction. Thirdly , it will not go to the hands of SFG but will be managed by the joint financial management group.