The recent terrorist attack on the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi,Kenya, is a stark and tragic warning of what can happen if the world neglects Somalia.

The international community has turned a blind eye to the Horn of Africafor too long, with baleful consequences. Piracy has been allowed to flourish along the Somali coast, terrorism has secured a foothold, and the population remains vulnerable to drought and famine, as we witnessed in 2011.

Denmark condemns al-Shabaab‘s attack on the Kenyan capital, and we express our condolences to the victims’ relatives, the wider population and the government.

Despite the tragedies in Kenya, there is hope in the Horn of Africa. Recent attacks cannot dim the progress achieved after two decades of conflict and chaos.

In August 2012, a new federal government was established in Somalia that can represent the population across geographical regions and family clans; a fragile-yet-important foundation has been established for creating peace and progress.

The positive results we have achieved so far should be celebrated.Piracy has been reduced as a result of wide-ranging efforts including a crackdown by international naval forces, and a tougher stance by politicians in Puntland – where the majority of Somali pirates are located – to end maritime hijackings

We have seen uplifting results on the ground, too. The first new Somali schools in 20 years have enrolled nearly 100,000 pupils; hospitals, health clinics, roads and bus stops are being restored; prisons, police stations, courts and legal aid centres have received vital funding, improving access to justice for the Somali people.

Rebuilding the country will take a long time, and setbacks are inevitable, but we must not give up. Recently, the government has pledged to bolster security, respect for rights, and economic stability. Somalia must continue to take responsibility for its development to avoid repeating previous mistakes.

This so-called new deal is supported by the international community, particularly the EU. At a conference in Brussels last month, representatives from various countries vowed to support Somalia’s commitment to self-improvement, both politically and economically.

Somalia’s ambitious new deal is the first of its kind in the world. It is an inspirational roadmap for promoting state-building and peace-building over the next three years, and seeks to strengthen the country’s political processes, security, legal system and economic foundation.

Positive development in Somalia through the new deal can set new standards for global co-operation and how we think about peace, security and development. More than 1.5 billion people live in countries in fragile situations – many of these are in Africa. Their opportunities for achieving the universal development goals are inextricably linked to increased peace, security and stability.

By fulfilling its promise in what may be the most fragile state of all, Somalia, the new deal may ignite the hopes of people around the world. And the tangible results achieved through the new deal can serve as the best argument for putting the challenges of fragile states at the top of the global development agenda after 2015.

Denmark recognises the importance of strong international co-operation on Somalia. The support and commitment of the UK represents a vital contribution towards fulfilling our shared responsibility for this fragile state.

While the new deal is not perfect, it is probably the best route to achieve progress, and will help us tackle the many serious threats Somalia has created for itself, the region and the world in recent years. We must not waste this opportunity – the tragedy in the Westgate shopping centre only underlines this.

Villy Søvndal is Denmark’s foreign minister; Christian Friis Bach is the country’s minister for development co-operation and co-chair of the International Dialogue on Peace-building and State-building, which aims to unite conflict-affected and fragile countries, international partners and civil society to bring about successful transitions from conflict and fragility.