Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni is in London alongside some of his military commanders to attend the conference on Somalia currently underway.
Kampala was one of the first countries to send troops to war torn Somalia, in 2007, under the auspices of the African Union (AU). It was later joined by Burundi and the two East African countries remained the major players in AU’s peace keeping mission.
In a statement, Museveni’s spokesperson Lindah Nabusayi said the Ugandans hoped the conference hosted by UK Prime Minister David Cameron will find a lasting solution to the 20 year-old conflict in the Horn of Africa.
“With engagement from attendees at the highest level, the conference will agree a series of practical measures to support Somalia,” Nabusayi said.
United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon is also attending the high profile meeting.
Forty governments are represented at the conference alongside multi-lateral organisations including the World Bank, Inter-Governmental Authority for Development, Organization of Islamic Conference and the League of Arab States.
Some of the countries that have sent representatives include Ethiopia, Kenya, United States, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Sweden. The AU and the European Union have also sent representatives.
Britain invited representatives of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG), as well as the presidents of the breakaway Somaliland, Puntland, and Galmudug, and the non-militant Islamist group Ahlu Sunnah Waljama’a (ASWJ).
Discussions will focus on security, sustainable funding for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), political process, local stability, counter-terrorism, piracy, humanitarian efforts and international coordination.
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