Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Fawzia Yusuf Adam, writes about the upcoming Somalia

Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Fawzia Yusuf Adam, writes about the upcoming Somalia Conference which will be held on 7 May.

Somali Foreign Minister Fawzia Yusuf Adam


Writing on Foreign Secretary William Hague's Facebook page, the Foreign Minister said the conference "will mark the beginning of a new partnership between Somalia and the international community".

She wrote:

"Last month the President of Somalia made his first visit to the UK in his official capacity, marking another important step in our country's journey to a safer and more secure future for Somali people everywhere.

"This visit was important because so much has changed in Somalia over the last 12 months, and because, working in partnership with the British Government and the rest of the international community, we now have a real chance to move on from the problems of the past.

"In a speech during his visit, the President described Somalia as having been in a coma for 20 years. He likened it to a patient who has responded to medication but remains in intensive care.

"The analogy is a good one – in part because it suggests how devastating the years of conflict and famine have been for the Somali people – but also because it underlines the continuing fragility.

"The achievements of the last year do offer real hope for a brighter future, but they are precarious and the road to full recovery will be long.

"That is why it is so important that we make the most of the opportunities open to us throughout this year to build strong Somali government institutions, effective security forces and judiciary, and transparent and accountable public finance systems which can help our country stand on its feet again.

"With our international partners, we hope to make measurable progress in addressing these issues at the Somalia Conference that we will co-host with the British Government on 7 May in London.

"This conference will also mark the beginning of a new partnership between Somalia and the international community. I would encourage Somalis and their friends across the world to join in the discussions now and let your vision for the future be heard."

The Governments of the UK and Somalia will co-host aninternational conference on Somalia on 7 May in the UK. The conference aims to provide international support for the Government of Somalia as they rebuild their country after two decades of conflict.