Somalia donor summit set to open in Copenhagen

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

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An international donor conference for Somalia set to open in Copenhagen on Wednesday (November 19th) aims to maintain momentum in the political transition process and foster dialogue and reconciliation in Somalia.

The two-day High Level Partnership Forum (HLPF), to be co-chaired by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the United Nations, will bring together Somali federal government and regional representatives, civil society and the international community.

"The HLPF will be a critical opportunity to review progress and chart the way ahead for the implementation of the New Deal Somali Compact," said UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Somalia Nicholas Kay.

"Much has been achieved, particularly through the concerted and joint efforts of the federal government. But significant challenges remain," he said.

"The ongoing political crisis in Somalia is a serious risk to further progress," he said. "I call on all parties to find a way to resolve their differences quickly so that the business of state building and peacebuilding can resume and accelerate."

On Sunday, Kay convened a meeting between Mohamud and Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, whose public political feud has threatened to derail progress.

Danish Ambassador Geert Aagaard Andersen, European Union Special Representative for the Horn of Africa Alex Rondos, EU Special Envoy to Somalia Michele Cervone d'Urso, Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Marcelli, Swedish Ambassador Mikael Lindvall and British Ambassador Neil Wigan also attended the meeting, urging the two leaders to reach an agreement and enable Somalia to fulfil its Vision 2016 goals.

The United States has said it will not send a delegation to the forum while Somali leaders are "distracted with political division".

A Somali parliament session dissolved into chaos for the second time Saturday when lawmakers attempted to debate a no-confidence motion against Ahmed.

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