Mogadishu, Somalia – An international conference on Somalia attended by representatives from 50 countries and organisations was held in London on Tuesday.

Its aim was to garner support for the Somali government in its effort to rebuild the war-torn country, and prevent it from slipping back into lawlessness.

The conference, co-hosted by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and UK Prime Minister David Cameron, saw donors pledge some $130m in aid to Somalia.

But not all leaders from Somalia’s patchwork of self-governing regions attended. Here’s what residents of Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, thought about the conference and their country’s future:

I listened to the conference on the radio and I think our country is coming back. A lot of pledges were made, which I think – if fulfilled – will bring us a lot of development and a big moral boost. For me, I’m hoping the government uses some of the money pledged to fix the city’s roads and recruit good police officers.

It was a good conference in general, in my opinion.

I haven’t heard about the conference. And honestly, I couldn’t care about a conference in London. Ask me about the price of meat and how much a goat costs in Mogadishu – that I know a lot about.

This conference is news to me, and I don’t know what another Somali conference in a foreign land will bring for us.

I didn’t follow the conference. To me, this conference looked no different than the many other conferences held for Somalia that accomplished nothing.

The conference didn’t feel inclusive. Presidents from Somaliland and Puntland were missing. The whole country was not represented.

More pressing for me is the need to re-open Makka al-Mukarama road, because since the government closed the road our hotel has lost clients and business

I didn’t have the chance to watch or listen to the conference as I had to work, but I hope this conference is not like the many conferences before it.

I hope for the best, but I don’t think it was representative. Puntland’s president was missing from the conference. I think change will happen when all regions of Somalia come together

I fully support the conference and I think it is the right move to bring Somalis together, like the conference did.

I don’t think this conference is like previous ones, because this conference is taking place when we have peace in Mogadishu. Other conferences took place when there was war here.

But what is more important for me is for the road in front of my shop to open again, so I can have customers again. I have rent and family to support, and the conference will not pay my rent or feed my family.

I liked the conference. A lot of good promises and pledges were made, which is what our country needs now after 23 years of war. I can’t tell the difference between this conference and the others before it, but I have hope.

We have peace in the city, which we didn’t have before. Anything is possible.

Source: Al Jezeera

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1 COMMENT

  1. lol Somaliland has no business there, our country is supported by its people! Best of luck Somalia we wish you no ill, but do not wish to share any sort of government with you. Live and Let Live! We don't want you! Easy as that. by the by Puntaland was not there and I don't see daroods complaining lol only when Somaliland says no I guess which makes your lot sooo transparent!

  2. HANOUTS FOR SOMALIA, HANDOUTS, AND EVER MORE HANDOUTS FOR THE DAWRF SOMALIS WHO NEVER GROW UP AND SOLD THEIR HUMANITY FOR HANDOUTS. THAT IS WHY EVEN POOR COUNTRIES LIKE ETHIOPIA AND KENYA OCCYPY WHOLE REGIONS OF THEIR COUNTRY AND REFUSE TO PULL OUT. DAAROOD-DOOFAAR AND HAWIYE AFAR-QOOBLE LIKE MILLIONS OF FREE AND PATRIOTIC SOMALILANDERS NEVER NO SENSE OF SELF-RESPECT AND PRIDE.
    THEY ARE THE SCUM OF THE EARTH. THEY ARE THE WORST RATS ON PLANET. VIVA ALL PEOPLE OF SOMALILAND REPUBLIC. WE RELAY ON OURSLEVES AND NEVER ALLOWED FOREGINERS TO OCCUPY OUR LAND AND TREAT US LIKE BIGGERS, WHILE DAAROOD-DDOFAAR AND HAWIYE AFAR-QOOBLE WILL ALWAYS ASK FOR EVER MORE HANDOUTS AND WILL NEVER GROW UP.

  3. Somalilander:
    I am sad to see the somali people thriving, I am devestated whenever I hear 1 more somali child go back to school, I don't know why Britain are doing this to us, but hey, wherever there is a will, there is a way, 99.99.99.99 % of our people voted no to somalia, and we strongly believe in our leadership, we gonna folow there steps because we are somalilanders, our somaliland existed long time before history, and no single faqash can misguide our determination and the will of our people.
    I believe that every confrence is 1 more step closer to our recognition, and the outcome of this confrence was very clear, somaliland was 50% recognised. I don't know when we gonna get the other half, but i believe is really closer than you can imagine. Having said that, we don't care if they give us there recognition, our country had been recognised by its people and that's enough.

    • our unity is the most important thing we can put our differences behind us … may be you were made to feel like a second class citizens by the former dictator but did u forget somalia is where it is because of him also … you can separate from the rest of somalia but if we reunite again we will be the best version of somalia
      so brothers and sisters lets not hate each other for something that happened in the past .. lets look for a brighter together

  4. Somalia-Italia = Muuqdishu!

    100% of International development for Somalia-Italia will go towards Muuqdishu.

    Majority of Jobs created will be in Muuqdishu and allocated to residents of Muuqdishu.

    The Idps, the rest of Somalia-Italia will receive lip service just like in 1960.

  5. President Hassan planning administration reshuffle leaked source.

    MOGADISHU- Sources close to the Somali Federal Government (SFG) told the MEDIA that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is planning to conduct a major reshuffle in his administration.

    President Hassan Sheikh who is currently in London where he co-chaired the Somalia conference with U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron might be getting ready for an overhaul of his administration.

    Sources tell the MEDIA that on his list of changes the SFG President will return the number of Cabinet Ministers from 10 to 18 which was the number of ministers during former Prime Ministers Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas and Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. The undersized cabinet appointed by Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon defied the 4.5 quota – a formula in which clans share government representation – and forced many ministries to be joined which resulted in 25 Deputy Ministers.

    According to our source, the high number of deputy ministers brought confusion, which resulted in political aides advising that the President return to the 18 ministry cabinet. Prime Minister Shirdon appointed the small cabinet which was backed by President Hassan who according to SFG sources had influence in the decision.

    The source also told the MEDIA that President Hassan is contemplating sacking Prime Minister Shirdon but it’s not 100% sure after he failed to subdue the ongoing Jubaland state process which has seen international backing from IGAD and mentions at the Somalia conference in London. After the conference in Lancaster House the official communique welcomed “progress on forming regional administrations and looked forward to the completion of that process,” which political insiders say is an oblique reference to the state building process.

    In the past, President Hassan has firmly stood against the Jubaland process in Kismayo. Addressing the Federal Parliament in Mogadishu earlier this month, President Hassan said “The Federal Government does not support the current Jubaland conference in Kismayo”.

    Prime Minister Shirdon – whose clan resides in Gedo region, one of the regions that make Jubaland –visited Kismayo in March and after meeting with process organizers returned to Mogadishu to reject the Jubaland state formation. Although Prime Minister Shirdon has firmly stood by President Hassan the source says that President Hassan was disappointed in his effort.

    According to the source, the possible reshuffle does not stop at Prime Minister Shirdon but key officials at the presidential palace might also be sacked. The source would not name some of the officials in question.

    The talk of a possible reshuffle of his administration comes at a time when President Hassan is being pledged millions of dollars to rebuild Somalia. Britain pledged 279 million US dollars which included funding for a doubling of the police force. The United States pledged 40 million US dollars, while the United Arab Emirates pledged 50 million in assistance.

    Source from: http://www.jubbalandmedia.com

    • Somaliland-Republic does not endorse the Siyadist demonstrators views and they are all diaspora individuals who have never set foot in Somaliland-Republic. There are no such states as Kastuumo, Makhaansir or Awdal. There is no federalism within Somaliland-Republic borders and those in the diaspora claiming such falsehood should be ashamed.

      In addition Singing for Siyad barre is not a unifying activity since he committed genocides against fellow Somalis.

      These people have shown only their foolishness and their insignificance in Somali political arena.

      • LOL then i wonder who could be controlling most of sool and all of cayn?? Why are your "soldiers" frightened to go past lascanod? If khaatumo doesnt exist then i guess its the boogyman?

      • buxir,

        It's not the question whether somaliland region endorses this protest or not, Somaliand region can support anything it has own million and half problems. these people are protesting to protect their own land from Moryaan and anyone with the same mentality.

        It's great day for those people who came in large number and PROTECT front of where the meeting held AUN. I WAS THERE.

        There is no such thing call siyaadisim it's dead 22 years ago same as Somaliland. the separatist use as a tool "siyaadisim" to mislead innocent people. most somalis and IC aware it will not WORK.

    • YOU must be very confuse person, how come if there is big number of Shiqifi,Gabooye,salomadow, no one heard their voices in SOOL. cut this crap GO back to reality.

      Those SOMALIS live Northern somalia it does not matter what tribe they are, if they decided to stay with federal republic of somalia no one can stop.

      The reality is SOMALIAND= Isaqland, even international community are aware of that.

      I personally salute folks from CAYN they kick OUT Hargiesa council admin from their territory.