Somalia has signed a security pact with the international community aimed at building a national force to fight al-Shabab militants.

World powers agreed plans in London to support and train Somalia’s army and police to take over duties currently performed by the African Union.

But the country’s president said unless a UN arms embargo was lifted the conflict would go on for 10 more years.

The UN secretary general said drought was Somalia’s “most pressing priority”.

UN chief Antonio Guterres called for an additional $900m (£700m) to allow aid agencies to tackle the severe drought facing the country, taking his total appeal to $1.5bn.

He added the conference at Lancaster House attended by more than 40 nations had created an opportunity to take Somalia out of “decades of conflict, of poverty and of terrible suffering”.

Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, who took office in February, hailed it as a “historic day” for his country.

Somalia has signed a security pact with the international community aimed at building a national force to fight al-Shabab militants.

World powers agreed plans in London to support and train Somalia’s army and police to take over duties currently performed by the African Union.

But the country’s president said unless a UN arms embargo was lifted the conflict would go on for 10 more years.

The UN secretary general said drought was Somalia’s “most pressing priority”.

UN chief Antonio Guterres called for an additional $900m (£700m) to allow aid agencies to tackle the severe drought facing the country, taking his total appeal to $1.5bn.

He added the conference at Lancaster House attended by more than 40 nations had created an opportunity to take Somalia out of “decades of conflict, of poverty and of terrible suffering”.

Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, who took office in February, hailed it as a “historic day” for his country.

Source: BBC News