Canada boosts support for Somalia security

Canadian government Tuesday announced an additional support of $6.02 million (about US $ 5.8 million) for Somalia to promote greater stability and sustainable peace and security in that country.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced the decision after meeting Fawzia Yusuf H. Adam, Somalia's deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs and international cooperation, Xinhua reported.

The two sides discussed the situation in Somalia, progress made by the Somalian government and counter-terrorism efforts in the Horn of Africa.

"In coordination with our international partners, Canada is proud to support Somalia as it builds the permanent and durable structures of a safe, secure and stable democratic state," Baird said.

"This support will help in the struggle against terrorism, which we have seen in recent weeks remains a challenge in this region of the world."

Baird told that they also discussed the issue of early and forced marriage.

Adam said her country needs the international community to assist and support its security forces to be integrated and save their country. She also claimed that piracy in Somalia off shore has been defeated.

"There has been no ships captured since the last 15 months," she added. "Somalia is coming back as a normal country, a normal state."