David Cameron will open the conference with a warning that the
turbulence in the failed state threatens the security both of Africa and
of Western nations.
The summit, which will be attended by the
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the US Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton, will aim to build on the tentative political
progress in Somalia.
The UN has agreed a boost to numbers of
African Union soldiers in the country and Mr Cameron will announce that
funding for its military presence is to increase from £5m to £13m. The
cash would be used for logistical support.
British sources
confirmed Britain and other EU nations had examined the feasibility of
air strikes against fighters from al-Shabaab, as well as the pirates
operating off the coast.
However, they played down the prospect of any imminent action, insisting they wanted AU forces to take the lead in any conflict.