BRUSSELS, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Somalia needs to focus on its development agenda after making political gains with a new government last year, the president of the European Commission said.
Somali President Hassan Sheik Mohamud arrived in Brussels for a European conference dubbed the "New Deal for Somalia."
Somalia recently formed its first functioning central government in more than 20 years. It's struggling to expand its influence beyond Mogadishu because of a lingering threat from al-Shabaab, al-Qaida's affiliate in Somalia.
EC President Manuel Barroso said Somalia has come a long way since forming a government last year.
"After a successful completion of the transitional period, Somalia now needs to focus on peace building and development," he said in a statement.
Nicholas Kay, U.N. special envoy for Somalia, told the Security Council last week he was optimistic about Somalia's future. He warned, however, the country could slide backward without continued international support as the Somali government.
"None of us should be complacent with the challenges that remain," Barroso told the visiting president. "But the good news is that you are not walking alone."
The European Union said last week it was offering the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia $163 million in assistance to help cover troop allowances.
