Pretoria - Representatives from over 54 countries have gathered in Istanbul to find a path towards a better future for Somalia.
International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) Deputy Minister Marius Fransman is leading a South African delegation to the gathering.
The two-day meeting - which follows a meeting in February - will kick off with discussions among senior officials, experts and businessmen on issues like water, energy, roads and sustainability.
According to the department, the Istanbul conference is expected to provide the international community with an opportunity to "adopt common positions" on the future of Somalia.
"The event will aim at taking stock of the progress in the implementation of the September 2011 Mogadishu Roadmap, as well as identifying immediate actions in the political, security, recovery and development spheres. These measures should enable a smooth end of the transition by 20 August 2012 and the period after the transition," said the department.
Instability due to war and the absence of a functioning government has contributed to the worsening situation in Somalia. The lack of sustainable programmes for institution and capacity building also renders Somalia more vulnerable to natural disasters.
Last year, the United Nations declared famine in the country following a massive drought, while piracy off the coast of the Horn of Africa country has posed security risks for the international community.
In this light, the conference that will be attended by various representative from the immediate region and from the broader international community, including the UN, are trying to deliberate on security, political processes, stability, piracy and humanitarian assistance which are critical to the attainment of peace and stability in Somalia.
