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               London Conference to Build on Progress in Somalia

   by Gabe Joselow

   World leaders are gathering in London this week to coordinate efforts
   to help Somalia rebuild, following two decades of civil war. Somalis on
   the streets of Mogadishu hope the conference will bring improvements to
   security.
   The British Foreign Office says more than 50 international partner
   countries and organizations have been invited to Tuesday's conference,
   co-hosted by the British and Somali governments.
   Participants are slated to discuss the Somali government's plans for
   developing the armed forces, the justice sector and other institutions
   weakened during more than 20 years of chaos that followed the ousting
   of President Siad Barre in 1991.
   In a video message posted on Britain's [1]Foreign Office website,
   British Prime Minister David Cameron said the meeting aims to sustain
   the progress made since another conference for Somalia last year.
   "We will not allow Somalia to fall back. The Somali people are seizing
   the opportunity to forge a new future and we will support them every
   step of the way," said Cameron.
   Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and a host of other Somali
   government officials are expected to attend the conference.
   On the streets of Mogadishu, citizens are hopeful the London meeting
   will improve lives in the city still plagued with violence.
   Aweys Hassan, a student in the capital, said, "What we expect most is
   that the international community supports the Somali government in
   restoring security of the country. That is the biggest priority for
   us." He added that Somalis also hope the country gets support for
   reconstruction.
   The African Union peacekeeping force and regional militaries have been
   successful in pushing the militant group al-Shabab out of major cities.
   The al-Qaida linked militants have maintained their grip on areas of
   southern Somalia, though, and continue to launch sporadic attacks on
   the capital, including a car bombing Sunday that killed at least eight
   people.
   The London conference will be followed Wednesday by a trade event
   promoting investment opportunities in Somalia.
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   [2]http://www.voanews.com/content/london-conference-to-build-on-progres
   s-in-somalia/1655455.html

References

   1. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/somalia-conference-aims
   2. http://www.voanews.com/content/london-conference-to-build-on-progress-in-somalia/1655455.html