PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Somalia: Counter-terrorism (17 October 2017)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) his counterpart in Somalia and (b) representatives of Somalia in the UK on support for counter-terrorism and security issues in that country since the recent terrorist attack in Mogadishu.

Asked by:
Kerry McCarthy (Labour)

The Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and I have written to the Somali President and Prime Minister, offering our condolences for the loss of life in the 14 October attacks and underlining the UK's solidarity with Somalia in the fight against terrorism. Our Embassy is in regular contact with the Somali government to support security sector reform, and in August I met the Somali Defence and Internal Security Ministers to urge progress on security coordination with the international community, during my visit to Somalia.​​
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The UK is funding and mentoring the Joint Operations Coordination Centre in Mogadishu, which coordinated the rescue and recovery operations following the attack, and counter-terrorism police that helped secure the area. The UK contributes logistical and funding support through the UN and EU to the African Union peacekeeping mission to Somalia, and provides pre-deployment training for troop contributing countries. The UK is also committed to strengthening Somali security forces, providing support for capacity building and the provision of non-lethal equipment to the Somali National Army.​

Answered by:
Rory Stewart (Independent)
20 October 2017