Hiiraan Online

Daily Nation
Tuesday, May 07, 2013

The President was accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister,  who is also Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fowziya Hagi Yusuf Adan, Mohamud H Suleiman (Finance), Abdihakim Mohamud Haji Fiqi (Defence), Minister of State for the Presidency Farah Abdulkader, and senior advisors from the Presidency and the office of the Prime Minister.

President Mohamud arrived in London on Monday night.

Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta is in the UK to attend the conference.

A statement from President Mohamud’s office said he will tell leaders and representatives from over 40 countries and many non government organisations that progress in Somalia over the past year has defied sceptics but that the peace in Somalia must be won with "unflinching commitment".

The President will lead a team of ministers in presenting detailed plans for the reform of security, justice and finance management sectors and will ask the international community to assist in the implementation of their plans.

"We are here today to begin a four-year process that must begin with considerable investment and support but which I hope will finish with very little," the statement reads.

The statement said President Mohamud brings the hopes of the Somalia people for a positive outcome from the conference and confirmed that he will also hold bilateral discussions with leaders and donors centred on the work and resources required to implement the Six Pillar Policy.

"People may ask why Somalia matters at this time but there is a huge amount at stake right now: the future of our country, the security of the region and the wider world, and the removal of the piracy stranglehold on the Gulf of Aden. I know you all understand this and I fully appreciate the political capital being invested to support Somalia."