UK foreign secretary discusses drought on Somalia trip

By Mohammed Dhaysane and Hassan Isilow

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson made surprise visit to Somalia on Wednesday -- the first Western minister to visit the drought-hit nation since the election of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.

Johnson arrived in capital Mogadishu amid tight security. Al-Qaeda-linked terror group al-Shabaab has threatened a “vicious war” against the new government.

“My discussion with Boris was historic,” Mohamed, who was sworn-in last month, said in a statement. “We discussed a number of issues, including how Britain can help the Somali government to avert the looming famine.”

Drought threatens millions of people in the Horn of Africa nation, which recently declared a national disaster amid warnings of a full-blown famine.

According to the UN, around half of Somalia’s population -- 6 million people -- face the largest humanitarian crisis since 1945.

The drought has hit at least 11 regions, including Bay and Bakol, where at least 110 people died of hunger and waterborne diseases over 48 hours early this month.

The country has been wracked by a two-decade civil war and several natural disasters. At least 260,000 people lost their lives during a 2011 famine.

Last month, Britain promised £100 million in aid to Somalia in response to the crisis and Johnson said the British government would match the first £5 million ($6 million) donated by the British public for East Africa.

He added that the U.K. would also help Somalia in the field of security and combating corruption.

Britain will host a conference on Somalia in May, where the international community and donors are to discuss security and rebuilding the country.