By Joe Churches

Dozens of British troops are to be deployed to Somalia as part of peacekeeping efforts to counter Islamic militants, David Cameron has announced.

Up to 70 armed forces personnel will be sent to bolster a United Nations-backed mission to push back against al Shabab extremists.

Another 250-300 could also be deployed in troubled South Sudan in a twin approach the Prime Minister said could help curb the flow of migrants towards Europe.

But he sought to reassure the public that “all the right force protection arrangements” would be put in place to minimise the risk of harm.

Details of the UK contribution were revealed as the Prime Minister prepared to attend a summit at the United Nations General Assembly in New York designed to bolster international support for peacekeeping missions across the globe.

It is the first time the UK – which contributes around £323 million a year to the UN peacekeeping budget and has done work on the ground in Somalia – has formally joined the international contingent backing the long-running push by African Union troops against al Shabab.

Smaller numbers have been involved in similar work after Mr Cameron made Somalia a priority case – hosting two summits in London aimed at filling the political void exploited by the extremists, who have been pushed out of around three-quarters of the territory they controlled over the last couple of years.

British forces will provide combat training and medical, logistical and engineering support.

The role of those being sent to South Sudan – where a humanitarian crisis has been declared after inter-tribal fighting forced two million from their homes and left millions facing a severe food shortage – will also include combat training as well as engineering work to strengthen vital infrastructure. Final numbers are still to be negotiated with the UN.

Read more: British troops to join peacekeeping force fighting militants in Somalia

Source: Independent