Somalia gets big EU pledge to end conflict

The money is part of a “New Deal” for what is widely regarded as a failed state, officials said. Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab dismissed the meeting as “Belgian waffle”. Al-Shabab is fighting to oust Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government, the first to be recognised by the US in more than 20 years. The group controls most […]

The money is part of a “New Deal” for what is widely regarded as a failed state, officials said. Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab dismissed the meeting as “Belgian waffle”.
Al-Shabab is fighting to oust Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government, the first to be recognised by the US in more than 20 years.
The group controls most of southern Somalia, but it has been driven out of the main cities and towns, including the capital Mogadishu, by an African Union (AU) force backing the government.  The New Deal will see the Somali government spearheading initiatives to promote peace and state-building.
The EU and Somali government believe now is a good time to adopt the programme as the country has entered a new era, with a more legitimate government and progress on the security front, our correspondent says. Mr Mohamud told the BBC Somali service he welcomed the New Deal.
“It’s a standard deal throughout the world in the post-conflict environment. This is a deal that is based on Somalia-led initiatives,” he said.  EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the extra money would support a “new phase in the life of Somalia”.  It would be in addition to the $1.6bn the EU gave Somalia from 2008 to 2013, he said.
Most of this money was used to finance the AU force of some 18,000 troops, AFP news agency reports.  Separately, the UK said it would contribute £50m ($80m) to the New Deal.  The money would go towards improving health and water services and rebuilding infrastructure destroyed by war, it said.  The UK’s ambassador to Somalia, Neil Wigan, said the conference was “a major milestone”, AFP reports.  Diplomats were hoping to see more than $1bn in pledges to help rebuild Somalia, it reports.
“Our combined efforts will maintain momentum and deliver the change that the people of Somalia desperately need,” Mr Wigan is quoted as saying.  Al-Shabab said it expected donor pledges would remain mostly unfulfilled or the money would be lost in corruption.
“It’s a bit like Belgian Waffles: sweet on the outside but really has not much substance to it,” it said on its Twitter account.  Mr Mohamud said at a news conference that aid money had been used to save lives, and provide basic services to Somalis.