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Africa Horn | |||
Europe’s migrant crisis can be averted by investment in Africa, says Somali FM | |||
2015-09-07 | |||
Somalia’s minister of foreign affairs has urged his fellow citizens not to join the exodus of African migrants to Europe, saying the country is now on the mend and needs them to help rebuild it.
Over the past three years, the country’s transitional government has made major gains against the Islamist al-Shabaab movement, who once ruled most of the capital, Mogadishu, and much of the south of the country. In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph ahead of a visit to London to speak at the Chatham House international thinktank, Mr Omer said that Mogadishu was becoming safer by the day and was now “open for business” to foreign investment.
“Fewer migrants are leaving now than they were, but with every pound of direct investment we get, that is more money that can go towards creating schools, hospitals, and jobs for the future generation of Somalis.” Mr Omer took over the foreign affairs portfolio earlier this year, having previously served as governor of Somalia’s central bank. Prior to that he was based in Washington, where he worked in the office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia.
Somalis, he added, were naturally good businesspeople, pointing out that even when Mogadishu had had no functioning government, local entrepreneurs had set up thriving private mobile phone networks, electricity and water supplies, and other utilities. “We have a strong service culture, where people expect to pay fees for what they get rather than relying on government,” he added. He also said that Western businessmen should overcome any reticence about visiting the Somali capital, despite ongoing guerrilla attacks by the al-Shabaab network. “I will be realistic about this – they would probably want to use bodyguards, just as businessman have always done when they have come here in recent years,” he said. “But things are definitely improving – and investors who want to come here to see for themselves are welcome.” | |||
Posted by:Steve White |
#1 It could have been avoided by ignoring the rectal orifices who deemed 'colonialism' as only a crime against humanity rather then a saving grace for the general population that has now suffered far greater calamities and death at the hands of their brethren. |
Posted by: Procopius2k 2015-09-07 00:59 |