The African Union has requested about 90 million dollars for its peacekeeping forces in Somalia, which provide support to their military forces in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the head of the African Union for political, peace and security affairs, said that more than 19,600 soldiers of the African Union cannot work properly and will not help Somalis if the economic gap is not filled.
A year ago, the UN Security Council overwhelmingly approved the new African Union’s interim mission in Somalia, known as ATMIS, to support Somalia until its forces take over full responsibility for the country’s security. by the end of 2024.
“If African Union forces do not receive the funds to operate effectively in the next 21 months before the handover, it may mean that al-Shabaab will eventually take over Somalia,” he said. said Adeoye.
He said that the main reason for the economic crisis in the African Union is the 60 million dollars that the European Union cut off from funding due to conflicting interests.
Adeoye attended a high-level meeting with the member states of the United Nations on the financing of ATMIS after he spoke to journalists. He expressed hope that all countries will contribute to filling the financial gap of $89 million, especially the Gulf countries, the world and the European Union.
He said that the lack of funds will affect the withdrawal of African Union troops.
