The European Union and its member states have approved €75 million in support of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, reaffirming that the EU is the largest contributor to African Union-led operations.
The new contribution brings the total EU support to the African Union operations in Somalia to almost €2.8 billion over the past two decades.
The EU Ambassador to the African Union, Javier Niño Pérez, said the EU is delivering on the commitments made at the AU-EU summit in Luanda, noting that it will further strengthen its support for African-led security operations.
“The EU is once again proving itself to be a reliable partner. It is essential to strengthen the security of the people of Somalia and the region as a whole,” he said.
For his part, the African Union Special Representative for Political, Peace and Security Affairs, Bankole Adeoye, said the AU welcomes this financial support, which will strengthen AUSSOM’s operations.
Adeoye also commended the countries that contributed troops to the mission, noting their important role in pacifying Somalia.
This new support is part of the broader partnership between the AU and the EU, which is based on the African Development Agenda 2063 and the two sides’ shared vision for peace, security and good governance.
Meanwhile, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, met with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, to discuss strengthening peace and security in Africa and the impact of international conflicts.
