Brussels, 05/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) will be able to count on an extra €50 million in support to carry out its peacekeeping operations in Africa. This decision was made by the European Commission on Monday 5 December and brings the EU's total contribution to AMISON to €258 million since it was created in 2007.
Major progress made in recent months on a military level has allowed AMISOM and the forces of the Somali interim federal government to resume control of most of the capital city of Mogadishu. Thanks to this new aid, which is the sixth tranche of funding of its kind, AMISOM will be able to continue to fulfil its mandate and increase its staffing levels (currently 9,800 troops) up to the level authorised by the United Nations (12,000 troops).
“This support to AMISOM is part of the comprehensive approach we have developed in support to the Horn of Africa, in terms of security and the fight against piracy, development assistance and humanitarian aid”, says Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in a press release.
Andris Piebalgs, European Development Commissioner, added that “AMISOM plays a key role in creating the ground for a better future of Somalia, giving the people of the country hope and a perspective of peace” and that this funding decision reflects the EU's determination to “support AMISOM in its mission of creating the necessary preconditions that will enable the Somali authorities to bring security to its people and progress in the peace process”.
AMISOM supports dialogue and reconciliation whilst ensuring the protection of key infrastructure (government buildings and the international airport at Mogadishu) to allow the federal transition institutions to do their work. It also supports the implementation of the national security and stabilisation plan, by supporting disarmament and stabilisation efforts, and facilitates humanitarian operations. The EU's support to AMISOM is funded by the African Peace Facility, the main partnership instrument for peace and security in the framework of the EU-Africa joint strategy. (AN/transl.fl)