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FCO Minister Mark Simmonds twitter Q&A on Somalia

Foreign Office Minister Mark Simmonds will answer your questions on Somalia and the G8 live via twitter on 20 May.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
Mark Simmonds

Rebuilding Somalia is one of the UK’s top foreign policy priorities. Progress over the last year has been striking; security is improving, relationships with the international community are normalising and a new parliament has been appointed in the most representative political process in a generation.

The G8 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in April urged the re-engagement of the International Financial Institutions in Somalia. The Somalia Conference on 7 May in London brought together 55 countries and international organisations to demonstrate their support to the new Federal Government of Somalia’s efforts to create a more peaceful and prosperous future for the country. Representatives of the Somali diaspora in the UK have also joined ministers from Britain and Somalia to help promote the position of women in Somalia.

These events are a clear demonstration of our commitment to Somalia and our determination to support the federal government and the people of Somalia in the years ahead. We are now looking forward to the G8 Leaders’ Summit to encourage progress on how the International Financial Institutions, such as the World Bank and IMF, can re-engage with Somalia to support the country’s long-term stability and growth.

Foreign Office Minister Mark Simmonds will answer your questions on Somalia and the G8 live via twitter on 20 May 16.30 – 17.15 (BST). You can submit questions using the hashtag #askFCO and you can follow the Minister on twitter @MarkJSimmonds .

Published 16 May 2013