World leaders gather for conference on war-torn nation

David Cameron opens the Somalia conference in London The international community has urged Somalis to go all out and rebuild their nation while world leaders gathered in London to discuss the East African nation's future. "Ending threats of terrorism and piracy is in everyone's interests," UK Prime Minister David Cameron said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confirmed that the mandate of the UN-backed interim government would not be extended any longer, though she said plans to elect leaders and adopt a constitution before August were "ambitious". UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said they had been given a "small space" that was still significant to pull the country out of its crisis.
The general outcome of the meeting was that the future of the country lay with the Somali people. "The Somali political leadership must be accountable to the people. The international community’s role is to facilitate Somalia’s progress and development: our strength is in unity and coordinated support to Somalia," said the UK's Foreign & Commonwealth Office in a statement on Friday.
Somalia has been embroiled in civil war and famine for over two decades now. Piracy heavily involving Somali pirates is now considered an international maritime security problem, and the country's recent famine saw millions at risk.
2.34 million people in the country remain in crisis, including 1.35 million internally displaced persons, while the number of Somali refugees in the region has risen to nearly 1 million. Around 325,000 children are reported to be "acutely malnourished", while sexual and physical abuse among women and children is still on the rise.  
UN chief Ki-moon stated that although over 200 international seafarers were currently being held hostage, they were far from solving the piracy and kidnapping problem.
Somali leaders have said its challenges cannot be solved by military means alone and a parallel focus is needed on boosting humanitarian aid, education and law and order.
Ki-moon called for "steps to improve security, advance the political process and step up assistance for recovery, reconstruction and development in Somalia."
The UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) recently returned to Mogadishu after 17 years. On Wednesday, the Security Council approved a resolution increasing the number of African Union (AU) troops in Somalia by 5,000 to more than 17,000. Member nations also agreed to increase funding for the mission and to extend its mandate.
"Ultimately, our goal is to transfer security responsibilities to the Somalis and establish sustainable, credible and indigenous security institutions in the country," said Ki-moon after praising the work of the AU in Somalia.
"As the security institutions take shape, the country needs to disarm," he continued.
"Famine may be ending, but more than two million Somalis are still in crisis," said the UN chief, while addressing the humanitarian crisis.
He also welcomed the move to increase women’s participation in all key institutions to at least 30 per cent.   
"The women and youth of Somalia must be actively engaged in all stages of the peace process," he said.
The UK described Somalia as the "world's worst failed state" but said it needs a "second chance".
Prime Minister Cameron told the gathered leaders that the world would pay a high price if it ignored the plight in the Horn of Africa.
 "For two decades politicians in the West have too often dismissed the problems in Somalia as simply too difficult and too remote to deal with. Engagement has been sporadic and half-hearted. That fatalism has failed Somalia. And it has failed the international community too...today we have an unprecedented opportunity to change that," he said.
"In a country where there is so little hope, where there is chaos and violence and terrorism, pirates are disrupting vital trade routes and kidnapping tourists," he added.
"Young minds are being poisoned by radicalism, breeding terrorism that is threatening not just Somalia but the whole world. If the rest of us just sit back and look on, we will pay a price for doing so."
Islamist insurgents have been at war with the transitional government since 2007.
Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed called for an end to the arms embargo, saying: "We're looking for security. We're scared of tomorrow."
"They want us under trusteeship and we will not allow that. God willing we will face the outcome with full force and stop it," said spokesperson Ali Mohamud Rage, spokesperson of Islamist militant group Al-Shabab.
"A stronger America failed and all these Africans failed and we say you should not waste your time, you will lose. We also tell them not to waste their resources."
Al-Shabab continues attacking capital Mogadishu despite being forced out last year.
Clinton reiterated that the US would never negotiate with Al-Shabab, but said Somalia was at a critical point to make progress.
 UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed said "High-level international attention must remain focused on the situation in Somalia."
The Gulf country also pledged $ 2 million to the new Local Stability Fund.
"...it is the people of Somalia who are the greatest victims.Their livelihoods, economic futures and well-being are being systematically deprived by the insecurity that ongoing criminal activities generate. We must ensure that the people of Somalia are placed at the centre of any international and regional strategy of support," finished the Sheikh.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé said that "hope can be reborn for Somailia today," while also remembering French hostages in the war-torn nation.
Juppé also said France was committed to the reconstruction of the Somali state, saying: "Reconstruction involves enhanced dialogue with local entities. Mogadishu needs to better take into account the singularity of Somaliland, Puntland and Galmudug. In return, the regions must express their commitment to national unity.
He also said: "Al-Shabab must lay down arms and give up violence." while saying France would continue training Somali police officers and soldiers so that they could establish stability.
Juppé also also approved of the EU strengthening its position in the region, lauding the appointment of  Alexander Rondos as European Union Special Representative for Somalia.
The London conference on Somalia, held on February 23 was attended by 55 delegations including neighbours Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, as well as representatives from the United States, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Sweden, the African Union and the European Union.
The World Bank, the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development, the Organisation of Islamic Conference, and the League of Arab States also attended.
Representatives from Somalia included the leaders of the transitional federal institutions; the Mayor of Mogadishu, the Presidents of Puntland and Galmudug; and representatives of Aluh Sunnah wal Jamaah. The President of Somaliland also attended
Participants agreed in addition to meeting immediate humanitarian needs that the international community must focus on helping Somalis "build their resilience to future shocks, by committing more multi-year support for livelihoods and basic social services."
The situation in Somalia was discussed under seven points: security, local stability, political process:, counter terrorism, piracy, humanitarian issues and international coordination on handling Somali issues.