US, Norway pledge aid to rebuild Somalia

KAMPALA – The United States and Norway have pledged reconstruction aid to Somalia’s transitional government, an African Union official said yesterday on the sidelines of the AU summit in Uganda.

The aid would be for ‘the reconstruction of the Somalian state and the performance of its services so that the population can feel there is a light at the end of the tunnel,’ AU peace and security commissioner Ramtane Lamamra said.Lamamra did not give an amount for the aid.The Kampala meeting has drawn together African countries affected by the conflict in Somalia, where Islamist rebels are trying to topple the Western-backed government, as well as international delegates.US Assistant Secretary for African affairs, Johnnie Carson, did not mention aid in his comments to the media at the end of a session in which he participated.’The US and Norwegian governments have indicated that they are going to directly help the Somalian government,’ said Lamamra. ‘This aid will be financial so the government can reorganise state services to become more effective.’The summit, which ends today, is expected to confirm a reinforcement of the AU’s military presence in Somalia to support the government against Islamist insurgent Shabaab militants who control most of the country.Diplomats and experts say the fragile administration of President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed should also be trying to gain the support of the population by convincing people it can improve their living conditions. – Nampa-AFP

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