Britain Pledges More Aid for Wartorn Somalia

Monday, April 16, 2014
BY MOHAMED SHEIKH NOR

British Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds answers questions in the House of Commons

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MOGADISHU - UK minister for Africa Mark Simmonds visited Somalia's capital on Tuesday stating that Britain is committed to supporting Somalia with millions of pounds.

Simmonds met Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, cabinet ministers, members of the armed forces, police and justice system and discussed the recent progress in Somalia, including the newly recovered towns in south and central Somalia that were controlled by al-Shebab.

At a news conference in Mogadishu's presidential palace shortly after his meeting senior Somali government officials, he said that his government would provide millions of pounds to help strengthen Somalia's armed forces.

"The United Kingdom is committed to provide 10 million pounds sterling for a military stipend to support Somali national army," he announced. "We are also providing an eight-million-pound stipend to the Somali national police, which will help the federal government recruit and deploy approximately 1800 new police officers over the next three years."

Simmonds also added that his government is the biggest donor to Somalia's stability fund as his government planned to donate another 33 million pounds with its aim to building peace and strengthening local governments by providing services to local communities, resolving local disputes peacefully and encouraging active youth engagement in the communities.

He also spoke about the importance of a secure and stable Somalia and applauded operations outside of Mogadishu by both African mission (Amisom) and Somali troops in which they are striving to recover new lands and towns for the federal government.

This is the second trip by Simmonds to Somalia in less than a year.

Britain's aggressive development and humanitarian efforts have increased as the UN and foreign nations try to assist Somalia in an eight-year transitional period and in the past promised to fund £1.5 million through USaid to quick impact projects in Mogadishu.

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