Peace talks bring East African leaders to Somalia for first time in decades

For the first time in three decades, East African foreign ministers are meeting in Mogadishu to push peace efforts in war-torn Somalia. Dozens of heavily armed soldiers and police patrolled the streets, where Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shebab militants regularly carry out bombings and killings. Ministers from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda – who have contributed troops to the 22,000-strong African Union force in Somalia – are all taking part in the one-day meeting, organised by the regional IGAD bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.

We are very happy that Mogadishu is secure enough to host such an international conference.

Abdirahman Duale Beyle, Somalia’s acting foreign minister

Held in a heavily guarded hotel near the main government district in Mogadishu, it is one of the largest and highest profile meetings in the capital for years. Leaders including UN chief Ban Ki-moon have visited Mogadishu in recent years, but important visitors rarely leave the fortified walls of the airport zone to travel on the dangerous city streets. The talks come after Somalia’s parliament last month endorsed Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke as prime minister, following bitter infighting and a falling out between the president and the previous premier.

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