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The European Union does not want to fund AMISOM soldiers alone

(B2) The European Union cannot continue to fund AMISOM soldiers' bonuses alone. This is the message hammered home by French diplomacy, particularly at the United Nations.

Ugandan AMISOM soldiers, July 2018. (AMISOM)

The words of Anne Gueguen, the number 2 of the French representation in New York, during a meeting of the UN Security Council on August 21 devoted to the situation in Somalia, sound like a warning. Even if they were expressed only by the French deputy permanent representative, they are shared by other countries, according to our information.

“The European Union cannot continue to finance the bonuses of AMISOM soldiers alone says Anne Gueguen, Deputy Permanent Representative. It is necessary " send a clear message to Somalia's other partners on the need to contribute funding to AMISOM ". And more specifically the salaries of AMISOM troops. A message to the Gulf countries or China.

The financial support of the European Union to the African peacekeeping force in Somalia (AMISOM) is indeed " significant » : €400 million for the period 2019-2020 and support of €20 million for the Somali security forces. That is more than half of European support for African peacekeeping missions (read: 800 million for African Union peacekeeping tasks). The European Union " intends to continue this support to AMISOM ". But not alone and not without conditions. " This support must take place in the context of the transition and within the framework of mutual commitments that each party must respect. »

(Emmanuelle Stoesser)

NB: One resolution of the UN had already launched the appeal in July 2018. And the Europeans had warned the African Union that they no longer wanted to keep an open funding tap without having a stricter framework for these peacekeeping missions (read : Europe is willing to commit to peace and security in Africa, but not without conditions).

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Emmanuelle Stroesser

A journalist for magazines and the press, Emmanuelle specializes in humanitarian issues, development, asylum and migration and human rights.

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