Brussels, 31/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - In response to the crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR), the EU is ready to step up its aid of €45 million to support the African-led force and the electoral process leading to general elections early 2015.
The European Commission is in fact willing to allocate another €25 million to the African-led International Support Mission in Central Africa (MISCA/AFISM), European Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs announced on Friday 31 January ahead of the donors' conference for AFISM scheduled to be held in Addis Ababa on Friday 31 January by the African Union. Subject to a request from the African Union, these additional funds could be made available from the African Peace Facility, like the previous €59 million allocated. Funding from the resources of the European Development Fund (EDF) is intended to finance the allowances, accommodation and food for troops deployed in the field, as well as the salaries of civilian AFISM personnel and various operational costs such as transport, communication or medical services. The EU also invites the other donors to answer the African Union's call for funding.
In order to support the electoral process, some €20 million could be made available as financial support for the setting in place of a system of voter registration, the printing of ballot sheets, training, equipment and staff, as well as voter education and the involvement of civil society groups as domestic observers. The exact amount of the aid is nonetheless subject to a needs assessment, which is currently ongoing.
The new funding will bring the EU's financial commitments in response to the crisis in the Central African Republic to around €200 million.
“We are mobilising all available resources, not just development aid, to help the people of the Central African Republic and improve their security, in a situation that has been getting worse for more than a year now. The MISCA support mission is a cornerstone for stabilising the country, protecting the local population and creating the conditions needed for the provision of humanitarian assistance and the reform of the security sector”, Piebalgs stressed after the 22nd summit of the African Union (Addis Ababa 30-31 January), that he attended (see EUROPE 11007).
“Together with our partners, the European Union will remain actively engaged in supporting the stabilisation of the Central African Republic. We will do all we can to help the new authorities to implement the transition agreement”, assured EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, in a press release.
The situation in CAR remains highly worrying and unstable. The crisis has caused nearly one million displaced people, half of whom are in Bangui, a region in which the European force should deploy now that it has received the go-ahead of the UN Security Council (see EUROPE 11006). It has also brought over 245,000 refugees. (AN/transl.jl)