On Thursday 23 February, some of the world's most influential leaders - including the UN Secretary General, over 50 heads of state and senior representatives from international organisations - will come together in London to try to coordinate a better international approach towards Somalia.

The London Conference on Somalia will focus on seven key issues, including piracy, terrorism and humanitarian assistance. Discussions will also revolve around what political system should succeed the current transitional government when its mandate expires in August this year.

The motivations for this conference are two-fold: Somalia has become a global problem due to its piracy and al-Shabab Islamist militants; and a growing number of countries, some with competing agendas, are now getting involved in the region.

The current security and aid fixation of Britain and the other international players in Somalia has meant that business, trade and investment have been omitted from the conference's agenda.