Pretoria - South Africa has committed to allocate R100 million to the Somali government, which will go towards building adequate institutions of governance in that troubled country.
The announcement was made on Tuesday and will see the South African government working with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and international partners to ensure that Somalia has adequate institutions of governance that will be sustainable beyond the TFG's mandate - which should ultimately see that country equipped to govern itself.
The R100 million will provide capacity and institution building, socio-economic support, as well as specified training in key government sectors, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told the media after her meeting with her Somali counterpart, Abdullahi Haji Hassan, in Pretoria.
The meeting saw the official signing of an agreement for the establishment of diplomatic relations - a move that will coordinate interaction between the two countries.
"This move will also afford us an opportunity to closely assess the situation in Somalia and propose interventions in partnership with Somalis and other key players towards the realisation of lasting and meaningful peace in Somalia," Nkoana-Mashabane said, adding that South Africa stood ready to share its own experiences on the constitution-making process with Somalia.
As a result, South Africa's High Commissioner to Kenya, Ndumiso Ntshinga, will be accredited to Somalia until circumstances allow for SA to open a Mission in Mogadishu.
Currently, Pretoria engages with Somalia through the Somali Embassy in Kenya, which is the focal point for all interaction between South Africa and Somalia.
But the minister said the opening of a Mission in Mogadishu would depend on a number of factors, such as financial resources and improved security in that country.
"We will also be happy to receive diplomatic representation from Somalia in the near future, which will not only enhance our bilateral relations and outreach to Somalia, but also serve the Somali nationals in South Africa," said Nkoana-Mashabane.
Somalia has for the past decade been plagued by internal strife, which has not been conducive for the creation of stable and effective government. The lack of sustainable programmes for institution and capacity building earned it a spot in the top failed states in the world.
This, coupled with the hunger crisis - where 750 000 people face imminent starvation, according to UN data - makes that country more vulnerable.
Haji Hassan thanked SA's support and said they could learn a lot from SA's experience, especially in the constitution-making process and peace-building.
Asked about the situation on the ground in Mogadishu and if they have requested military assistance from SA, Haji Hassan said they have not as the situation has calmed and stabilised, and that people have started rebuilding their lives. He added that SA was already doing a lot to help them.
Ravaged by war, Mogadishu, which is Somalia's capital, has seen an influx of persons who fled hunger and fighting. The influx has made it difficult for government to provide basic services for the people who far exceed available services.
Pretoria has also been active in responding to the humanitarian situation in Somalia by offering aid and logistical support to efforts by SADC countries and the international community aimed at combating the humanitarian crises.
Nkoana-Mashabane said a political solution was the only option to resolving the situation in Somalia and encouraged all stakeholders, who still remain outside of the peace process, to participate in the talks to ensure an inclusive Somali-owned process and solution.
"We would like to call on all Somali armed opposition groups, including Al Shabab, to lay down their arms and to join the peace process that has already been embarked upon," said Nkoana-Mashabane, raising concern about the continuing violence and loss of life in Somalia and piracy [along] the country's coast.
"We believe that the solution to piracy is on land, and that the issue of piracy will only be solved once there is political stability in Somalia. It is necessary that Somali institutions be strengthened to enable them to play their role in the prosecution of [pirates]."
The two ministers also discussed bringing home Bruno Pelizzari and Debbie Calitz, SA citizens held hostage by Somali pirates.
Nkoana-Mashabane went on to say that she was, however, encouraged by the determination of the current Somali leadership to embark on a constitution-making process that would serve as the basis for a new political dispensation that would replace the current Transitional Federal Institutions by August 2012 when the latter's mandate expires.
This, she added, was a crucial step that signaled a bold move to advance the objectives of the peace process.
