January 17, 2012 | 211 comments
So far, we’ve had an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the British Prime Minister’s announcement to host a Conference on Somalia in London next month. After 20 years of sliding backwards, it’s clear – and welcomed by many – that Somalia needs a step-change in effort, both from the international community, but also Somalia’s political leaders. This is what the London Conference is about – bringing together in London senior representatives … Read more »
Somalia: Reflections on 2011, Focus on 2012
December 21, 2011 | 42 comments
With 2011 drawing to a close, let’s take a moment to reflect on the past year, and look ahead to the next. 2011 has been a particularly tragic year for Somalia and, most importantly Somalis. Despite a great deal of effort and goodwill by many people both outside and inside of Somalia, the country remains mired in conflict and in a humanitarian disaster of almost unimaginable proportions. And, once again, … Read more »Somalia: Reflections on 2011, Focus on 2012
Remembering the Victims of Conflict in Somalia
November 15, 2011 | 5 comments
The past few weeks have been dominated by military issues: AMISOM’s ongoing campaign and Kenya’s fight against Al Shabaab. On 8 November, Lord Howell, the Foreign Office Minister, made clear our support for Kenya in the House of Lords. Kenya bears much of the burden of the threat emanating from Somalia and the UK shares Kenya’s concerns about the threat to its national and international security. The past few days, … Read more »Remembering the Victims of Conflict in Somalia
Somali Week Festival
October 28, 2011 | Reply
This week sees the fifth year of the Somali Week Festival in London, organised by the Kayd Somali Arts and Culture organisation. The British Office for Somalia is a proud sponsor of this event, which brings together poets, writers and musicians from across Somalia to perform in the UK. This year’s artists and performers include Mohamed Haashi Dhama ‘Gaarriye’, Abdinasir Ma’alin Aydid, Dr Georgi Kapchits, Amin Amir, Saado Abdi Amarre, … Read more »Somali Week Festival
Somalia: Guest Blog by James Hooley – Letter from Mogadishu
August 22, 2011 | 3 comments
My name is James Hooley and I’m currently part of the British Office for Somalia team in Nairobi. My boss, Matt Baugh, has very kindly lent me his blog so I can tell you a little bit more about our trip to Mogadishu on Wednesday with Andrew Mitchell, the UK Secretary of State for International Development – the first Cabinet Minister to visit Mogadishu since Douglas Hurd in 1992. You … Read more »Somalia: Guest Blog by James Hooley – Letter from Mogadishu
Somalia Matters to the UK
August 2, 2011 | 2 comments
Together with my colleague Alistair Fernie, Head of DFID Kenya and Somalia, I recently visited Dadaab, the largest refugee camp in the world. There among the crowds of newly-arrived people, I met one young mother, Sarura who, along with her 2 small children and other members of her family, had trekked for weeks to reach a place of safety. Her story was a common one – no longer able to … Read more »Somalia Matters to the UK
Somalia: join the online dialogue
May 19, 2011 | 4 comments
I’d like to welcome you to my first blog as the UK Senior Representative to Somalia and the first-ever one on behalf of the new British Office for Somalia. My name is Matt Baugh. You will find a link to my biography elsewhere on this page, in case you would like to know a little more about me. I was appointed as the UK’s Senior Representative for Somalia last year … Read more »
Building Momentum 
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