Press Release 57/2012
(Mogadishu, June 2, 2012) The government welcomes the outcome of the 2nd Istanbul Conference on Somalia that was wrapped yesterday in Turkey. The Somali government considers the calls for economic recovery in Somalia which is an important milestone that was never emphasized before now. By addressing the economic issues and chronic impoverishment, the Somali people will have new opportunities for jobs – which could be alternatives to the violence - especially for the youth.
The international community has an important role to play in Somalia, especially providing the necessary support to create professional army and police forces that will be responsible to maintain the security of the country. This is important because the country’s security can only be maintained with strong national security forces as raised in the conference.
On the political front, the government is committed to follow the timetable of ending the transition in August as reaffirmed by the stakeholders in Addis Ababa conference on May 23, 2012. It is important to mention that the government has already cleared a number of political challenges that indicate its commitment to end the transition on time.
On the security, the Somali troops with support from African Union Mission in Somalia have made significant changes in the security front, which implemented most of the stabilization plan for the country that led to the liberation of more new grounds from the terrorist organization Al Shabaab.
The Somali people have seen major progress over the last eight months, including the longest period of peace in the capital which improved business and reconstruction efforts. However, the government will continue its onslaught against the terrorist, as it advances towards the remaining Al Qaeda enclaves in southern and central Somalia.