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Somali conflict: Mohamud and Cameron hail 'new era' Somali conflict: Mohamud and Cameron hail 'new era'
(about 1 hour later)
Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says Somalia has entered a new era that will herald the end of more than two decades of conflict.Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says Somalia has entered a new era that will herald the end of more than two decades of conflict.
He was speaking at a major international conference in London to help Somalia rebuild itself.He was speaking at a major international conference in London to help Somalia rebuild itself.
The UK and other donors pledged some $96m (£62m) in aid for Somalia. The UK and other donors pledged some $130m (£84m) in aid for Somalia.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said huge progress was being made in curbing piracy and tackling an Islamist insurgency in Somalia.UK Prime Minister David Cameron said huge progress was being made in curbing piracy and tackling an Islamist insurgency in Somalia.
Somalia is widely regarded as a failed state, hit by numerous conflicts since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Siad Barre in 1991.Somalia is widely regarded as a failed state, hit by numerous conflicts since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Siad Barre in 1991.
The United Nations (UN) estimates that nearly 260,000 people during a famine in the East African state from 2010 to 2012. The United Nations (UN) estimates that nearly 260,000 people died during a famine in the East African state from 2010 to 2012.
'Government's writ''Government's writ'
Al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaeda, still controls much of the country.Al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaeda, still controls much of the country.
The government - which took office last year - depends on about 18,000 African Union (AU) troops to stay in power. The government depends on about 18,000 African Union (AU) troops to stay in power.
Mr Mohamud said the government would take full control of security by 2015. Mr Cameron said UK security was threatened by radicalism that was "poisoning young Somali minds".
Mr Cameron said the UK would finance efforts to rebuild Somalia's security forces. "If we ignore it we will be making the same mistakes in Somalia that we made in Afghanistan in the 1990s. I'm not prepared to let that happen," Mr Cameron said.
"I am pleased that Britain will commit £10m ($15.5m) to help develop Somalia's armed forces and £14.5m to double the number of police officers and train judges and lawyers," Mr Cameron said, at the conference. Mr Mohamud said there had been a paradigm shift in Somalia since his government took office last year.
The European Union (EU) pledged $58m towards the initiative. "Soon, Somalia will be a different place, a better place," he said.
Mr Mohamud was chosen by MPs in September 2012.
Mr Cameron said the UK and other countries - including China, the US and South Africa - had agreed to contribute £50m ($77m) to help Somalia rebuild its security forces so they could tackle insurgents and criminal networks.
The European Union said it had pledged $58m towards the initiative.
"In Somalia, like anywhere else, there can be no development without security," it said in a statement."In Somalia, like anywhere else, there can be no development without security," it said in a statement.
The meeting follows similar conferences in London and the Turkish city of Istanbul last year, amid growing international concern that Somalia has turned into a haven for al-Qaeda-linked militants. The meeting follows similar conferences in London and the Turkish city of Istanbul last year, amid growing international concern that Somalia had turned into a haven for al-Qaeda-linked militants.
The new government is the first one in more than two decades to be recognised by the United States, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other key players who are attending the conference. The new government is the first one in more than two decades to be recognised by the US, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other key players who are attending the conference.
In a BBC interview, Mr Cameron said Somalia was "one of the most broken countries in the world" and the "writ of the government, as it stands today, doesn't run a long way outside Mogadishu, but at least it has a government, it's making a start and I think we're seeing some real progress".In a BBC interview, Mr Cameron said Somalia was "one of the most broken countries in the world" and the "writ of the government, as it stands today, doesn't run a long way outside Mogadishu, but at least it has a government, it's making a start and I think we're seeing some real progress".
Mr Cameron also held talks with Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is attending the conference - his first visit to a Western country since his controversial election in March. 'Tackling corruption'
Mr Cameron also held talks with Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is attending the conference - his first visit to a Western country since his election in March.
The UK had said it would have limited contact with him, as he been charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC) with crimes against humanity over his alleged role in fuelling violence after the disputed 2007 election - charges he denies.The UK had said it would have limited contact with him, as he been charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC) with crimes against humanity over his alleged role in fuelling violence after the disputed 2007 election - charges he denies.
Mr Cameron defended meeting Mr Kenyatta, saying he was co-operating with the ICC and Kenya was playing a vital role, along with other regional states, to beat back al-Shabab in Somalia.Mr Cameron defended meeting Mr Kenyatta, saying he was co-operating with the ICC and Kenya was playing a vital role, along with other regional states, to beat back al-Shabab in Somalia.
The leaders of Ethiopia and Uganda, which have troops in Somalia fighting al-Shabab, are also at the conference. The leaders of Ethiopia and Uganda, which have troops in Somalia fighting al-Shabab, were also at the conference.
Mr Mohamud told delegates that the cornerstones of a new Somalia had been laid since last year's conference. Mr Mohamud told the BBC that he envisaged the withdrawal of the AU force within two years.
"The political transition has ended and I stand here as the elected president of a sovereign nation," he said. BBC Somalia analyst Mary Harper says Mr Mohamud's estimate appears to be optimistic, as he is little more than the president of the capital, Mogadishu.
He was chosen by MPs in September 2012.
After "winning the war... winning the peace in Somalia will take patience and great skill," he said, adding that the country was at a "critical junction".
The Somali leader told the BBC that he envisaged the withdrawal of the AU force within two years.
"Soon, we are expecting to take over fully the security of Somalia," he said.
'Tackling corruption'
BBC Somalia analyst Mary Harper says Mr Mohamud appears to be optimistic, as he is little more than the president of the capital, Mogadishu.
The Somali army is made up of clan militias with questionable loyalty, she says.The Somali army is made up of clan militias with questionable loyalty, she says.
Somalia is also divided into a patchwork of self-governing regions, many of them hostile to the central government.Somalia is also divided into a patchwork of self-governing regions, many of them hostile to the central government.
The breakaway state of Somaliland and the semi-autonomous region of Puntland have boycotted the conference.The breakaway state of Somaliland and the semi-autonomous region of Puntland have boycotted the conference.
Somalia's government is also totally dependent on foreign aid, and has so far refused to agree to set up a joint oversight mechanism to curb corruption, our correspondent says.Somalia's government is also totally dependent on foreign aid, and has so far refused to agree to set up a joint oversight mechanism to curb corruption, our correspondent says.
Mr Mohamud said the government had laid the foundations for a new public finance management mechanism to ensure that donor money was properly spent. But Mr Cameron told the BBC the government had "signed up to an awful lot of new measures" to ensure that it accounted for aid money.
Mr Cameron said the need for a joint oversight mechanism would be discussed at the conference. He added that "huge progress" was being made in Somalia.
"You have to do everything you can to make sure it [aid] gets through to the people who need it but it's particularly tough in a country that hasn't had a functioning government," he told the BBC. Piracy was down by 80% this year with no vessel attacked so far, Mr Cameron said.
"To be fair to the president, he has signed up to an awful lot of new measures and steps to make sure the government is transparent." However, the World Bank estimated in a report in April report that piracy emanating from the Horn of Africa nation may still cost the world economy $18bn a year, he added.
Pirate attacks have also fallen dramatically in recent years, as international navies patrol Somalia's waters. "Britain will also support the new maritime strategy enabling full radio connection all along the entire coastline for the first time in 20 years," Mr Cameron said.
Rival groups have battled for control of Somalia since the overthrow of Mr Barre in 1991.