Ahead of the 2017 London Somalia Conference in May the
Foreign Secretary met with President Farmaajo to discuss the
UK-Somalia partnership
Foreign Secretary made his first visit to
Mogadishu today (15 March 2017) ahead of the Somalia Conference
in London on 11 May 2017. The Foreign Secretary met with
President of Somalia Abdullahi Farmaajo and Prime Minister Khayre
to discuss the drought affecting large areas of east and west
Africa and how the UK and Somalia are working together to improve
the security situation to allow the economic development that can
help reduce the country’s vulnerability to natural crises.
Mr Johnson saw demonstrations of the training that the British
Military are providing to Somali National Army (SNA) and African
Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) forces. This training is vital
to help Somali forces combat terrorism and take responsibility
for the security of their country.
At the newly opened Drought Operations Coordination Centre the
Foreign Secretary saw how the UN is organising the response to
Somalia’s devastating drought and how UK Aid is reaching more
than a million people with lifesaving food, water and emergency
healthcare.
Mr Johnson also met with regional leaders, newly elected Somali
MPs and joined a training session for Somali prosecutors and law
students which is helping to improve the Somali criminal justice
system.
Speaking after the visit the Foreign Secretary said:
“On my first visit to Somalia I was delighted to meet with newly
elected President Farmaajo and Prime Minister Khayre. I heard
about their plans and priorities and we discussed how we can work
together to improve security and deliver the economic development
that Somalia needs to improve the lives of all its people.
“I was particularly impressed by the demonstrations of the
practical help that the UK is delivering on the ground, from our
military providing essential training for Somali armed forces to
the live-saving humanitarian support from UK Aid. All of this is
vital if Somalia is going to move forward to achieve long-term
stability and prosperity.
“That is why the UK is hosting the Somalia Conference in London
in May and I look forward to welcoming the President to the UK to
continue this work.”
On departure from Somalia the Foreign Secretary will be visiting
Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya, where he will be discussing regional
security, prosperity and the upcoming London Somalia Conference
on 11 May 2017 and the Commonwealth Summit in April 2018.
Note to editors:
- The Foreign Secretary spent seven hours on the ground in
Somalia, visiting Villa Somalia for his meeting with the
President and Prime Minister before returning to Mogadishu
International Airport to the UN Joint Mission Training Centre to
see demonstrations of the training being provided by British
Military personnel to SNA and AMISOM forces. He also visited the
UN Drought Operations Coordination Centre, had tea with regional
leaders from Somalia’s Federal Member States, held a reception
for newly elected MPs that hold British-Somali dual nationality
and joined a training session for female junior prosecutors and
law students that will help develop advocacy skills and promote
fair trial procedures.
