*High Representative/Vice President, Federica Mogherini, and Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, on official visit to the African Union**
Today the High Representative/Vice President, Federica Mogherini, and Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, concluded an official visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The aim of the visit was to strengthen ties and boost partnership with the African Union on common areas of cooperation. In this respect, they met with the new leader of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat who took up office just two days ago. Remarks following her press point with Moussa Faki Mahamat are available here.
The EU announced new financial support for the Horn of Africa region as well as for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
High Representative/Vice President, Federica Mogherini, said: « 2017 will be a defining year for the partnership between Europe and Africa. Here today with our partners at the African Union we discussed how to strengthen our common work on global challenges, from peace and stability to investing in youth and cooperation on migration. We are taking forward this key partnership towards the 5th Africa-EU Summit, which will be held in Abidjan in November 2017. What happens in Africa matters in Europe, and viceversa, and we have a lot to gain from increased cooperation at all levels. » HR/VP Mogherini also met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
Commissioner Mimica announced together with Smail Chergui, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, two agreements on the European Union’s financial contribution from the EU’s African Peace Facility to AMISOM.
« This €120 million support reinforces our commitment to the peace building mission in Somalia. Without the achievements made by AMISOM, Somalia would not be where it is today. AMISOM’s essential role is to continue to providing a safer and more secure environment in Somalia which benefits the Somali people and the development of the country as a whole until its gradual phasing-out. » Commissioner Mimica added.
Background
European Union and Africa: Key partners
The EU and Africa are key partners have a long-standing and comprehensive partnership, based on common interests and shared values which has deepened and diversified over decades, as evidenced in the Lomé and Cotonou agreements, and in particular since the adoption of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy in 2007. Through its long-standing development cooperation, the EU has assisted African countries in a number of different sectors (governance, peace, security, energy, education, trade, economic growth and job creation, sustainable agriculture, infrastructure, health, and migration) and positive results have been achieved, especially regarding the Millennium Development Goals. We are working together to achieve a similar output in the framework of Agenda 2030.
The EU and Africa are currently working towards the 5th Africa-EU Summit, which will be held in Abidjan in November 2017, with youth being the key theme.
Read the Factsheet: EU-Africa: Key partners
EU support to Amisom
Since the mission’s initial deployment in March 2007, the EU has so far provided more than €1.3 billion to AMISOM, which is expected to reach €1.5 billion by the end of 2017. This is clear proof of the EU’s continued commitment to support AMISOM which is an integral part of the EU’s comprehensive and long term approach to support security and development efforts in Somalia. Today’s additional support of over €120 million covers six months of operations, including a contribution to troop allowances for all AMISOM soldiers, salaries and allowances of the AMISOM police and civilian components, death and disability compensation for military and police personnel, as well as operational costs of the mission’s offices in Nairobi/Mogadishu and the General Dhagabadan Training Camp in Mogadishu.
IP/17/646
Published on 17 Mar 2017 — European Commission – Press release – Brussels, 17 March 2017
[ http://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/eu-reinforces-cooperation-african-union-and-announces-new-peace-building-support-120 ]