Dozens of British troops are to be deployed to Somalia as part of peacekeeping efforts to counter Islamic militants, David Cameron has announced.

Up to 300 could also be deployed in South Sudan over time.

The Prime Minister, who is due to pledge the support at the UN General Assembly today, said the approach could help tackle the number of migrants coming to Europe.

British forces will provide combat training and medical, logistical and engineering support in Somalia, where al Qaida-affiliated al Shabaab has been pushed out of around three-quarters of the territory it had controlled.

Our Armed Forces have a long history of delivering security and stability to some of the most hard environments in the world and I am proud to offer British support and expertise to peacekeeping operations in Somalia and South Sudan.

Mr Cameron – who yesterday said he wanted to see Assad face trial at the worldwide criminal court – made clear his view that there could be no long-term solution while the Syrian leader remained in power.

And he said it was right Britain was “stepping up and playing a greater role”.

“It is absolutely vital that the worldwide community works together to shore up stability in Africa”. “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.

“What happens in the outcome in Somalia, if it’s a good outcome, that’s good for Britain, it means less migration, less piracy and ditto South Sudan”.

In South Sudan, Britain will support the more than 13,000 personnel working to protect civilians and help foster a regional effort to end the conflict that erupted in 2013 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar.

“The United Kingdom was one of the first peacekeeping nations and now has around 280 troops participating in the UN mission in Cyprus”.