Addis Ababa, 20 September 2013: Today, the African Union (AU) Commission signed the agreement providing further European Union (EU) support in the amount of €124 million to the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for the period June to December 2013. This additional funding brings the overall EU contribution to AMISOM to approximately €600 million since March 2007.

The EU contribution will continue to cover the costs of troop allowances for military, police and civilian components of AMISOM, as well as operational costs for the Mission Headquarters. This support is critical in allowing AMISOM to continue to fulfill its mandate.

Mr. El-Ghassim Wane, Director of the Peace and Security Department of the AU Commission, expressed the AU’s appreciation for the continued support by the EU, highlighting the close partnership between the two Unions.

Representing the EU, Mr. Gary Quince, Special Representative to the AU, acknowledged AU's contribution to the stabilization of Somalia, and reaffirmed the EU's commitment to continue support to the Mission.

On 16 September, the EU and the Federal Government of Somalia co-hosted a High-Level Conference on "A New Deal for Somalia" in Brussels, which helped sustain the positive momentum in Somalia. The EU pledged €650m towards the reconstruction of the country. The Conference brought together Somalia and its partners, in order to endorse this framework - a "Compact" for Somalia for the next three years.

 

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