South Africa pledges $13.2 million to rebuild Somalia's institutions

March 14, 2012

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The South African government announced on Tuesday (March 13th) that it will re-establish diplomatic ties with Somalia and help its government move out of the transitional phase.

South Africa's International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane pledged $13.2 million in financial assistance to Somalia to support government institutions and help draft a new constitution. The funds would also be used for capacity-building and for training in specific government sectors.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Pretoria with her Somali counter-part, Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullahi Haji Hassan Mohamed, Nkoana-Mashabane said the two countries will also establish diplomatic relations.

Nkoana-Mashabane said peace can be achieved through negotiations and urged opposition forces in Somalia to open dialogue.

Mohamed thanked South Africa on behalf of his government, and said Somalia could learn much from South African, especially in the realm of constitution-drafting and peace negotiations.

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