Let's change the dynamic in Somalia

Britain has just hosted a major international conference on Somalia, attended by heads of government and senior representatives from more than 50 countries and organizations, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.N. Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon and a large delegation of Somali leaders.

Together we agreed that the time was right to work on a series of practical measures aimed at helping Somalia get back on its feet.

First, we affirmed that the transitional government in Somalia must end in August and that there must be no further extensions. The Somali people must determine the shape of their future political institutions -- so we emphasized that the political process must be inclusive and representative.

We also agreed that the political process should be open to all those who are prepared to reject violence, including those in areas currently under Al-Shabaab control.

We also acted on the decision of African Heads of State to establish a Joint Financial Management Board to improve public financial management. Our aim is to have mechanisms in place for reducing corruption, rebuilding trust and ensuring that Somali and donor funds are properly and transparently spent on providing services to the Somali people.

Establishing security is essential for making political progress. That's why the international community has agreed to help AMISOM (the African Union troops) extend beyond Mogadishu, to further counter the challenge currently posed by Al-Shabaab.

A new U.N. resolution has endorsed an increase in troops from 12,000 to 17,731, along with a new equipment package.

The conference also addressed the challenge of terrorism -- a threat shared by the Somali people, the region and the wider world -- prioritizing the need to disrupt terrorists' travel to and from Somalia and to disrupt their finances. We will also be supporting the Somali criminal-justice system.

On piracy, the British government and the Seychelles will establish a new regional anti-piracy center with support from other partners, which will look to prosecute the king-pins, ransom negotiators and middle men to break the piracy business cycle. There were also a number of agreements between nations to make it easier for suspected pirates to be tried in the region, then transferred to Somali prisons.

Somalia has suffered from a terrible famine in the past year. The conference also highlighted the need for donors from across the world to continue to respond generously to the crisis -- and provide aid on the basis of need alone.

Despite the welcome announcement by the U.N. that famine conditions in Somalia have now ended, the humanitarian situation remains gravely concerning 2.3 million people are still affected.

Together these measures represent an attempt to change the dynamic in Somalia from one of inexorable decline to one of gradually increasing stability and security.

However, Somalis cannot do it on their own; that is why we called this conference -- to galvanize international support to Somalia and to send a signal to the people of Somalia that we will stand by them.

And to remind all those who wilfully import and perpetuate violence and terrorism there that they should not underestimate our resolve.

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