Britain to send troops to Somalia, South Sudan

Seventy British troops will be sent to Somalia to help Kenya and Amisom in efforts to counter Islamist militants, Al-Shabaab.

British Prime Minister David Cameron announced up to 70 personnel will join a United Nations contingent supporting African Union troops.

The UK troops will provide medical, logistical and engineering support.

About 250 to 300 other troops will be sent to carry out specific tasks in South Sudan, such as engineering advice and combat training.

The PM made the announcement while at the UN General Assembly summit, in New York on Monday.

“Our commitment to peacekeeping operations will help to alleviate serious humanitarian and security issues in Somalia and South Sudan, helping to bring stability to the region and preventing these challenges from spreading further afield”, Cameron said.

British troops will not be involved in combat roles, he said.

"It's not committing troops to conflict, it's committing troops to a UN blue-hatted peacekeeping role - as we've done many times in the past, as we will do in the future," he told the BBC.

Al Shabaab is battling Somalia's government for control of the country and Kenya has about 3664 troops fighting the group.

The Kenyan troops entered Somalia in October 2011 and were later formally integrated into Amisom in February 2012 after the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2036.

In South Sudan, a conflict between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar has forced more than 2.2 million people from their homes.