Thursday, March 21, 2013
The European Union will donate an additional
33 million euros ($43 million) to the African Union Mission in Somalia
(AMISOM), the European Commission announced Tuesday (March 19th).
The continued EU support will assist AMISOM in fulfilling its mandate
and reaching a total strength of 17,631 troops. The funds cover troop,
police and civilian costs, as well as the operational costs of running
AMISOM's headquarters in Nairobi.
"Supporting AMISOM is a key element of the EU's comprehensive
approach to Somalia, assuring the security necessary for the federal
government of Somalia to provide governance, re-establish the rule of
law and provide basic social services to the people," EU High
Commissioner Catherine Ashton said in a statement.
The total EU contribution to AMISOM since 2007 now stands at over 444 million euros ($575 million).