EU boosts peace and security in Africa with €750 million

The EU has adopted an action programme that would provide up to €750 million during the period 2014-2016, to support the African Union and African sub-regional organisations in their peace and security efforts. 

The new funding which was announced by the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, at the Africa EU summit in April, would be channeled through the African Peace Facility (APF).

According to a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, an initial amount of €325 million would be committed for 2014, and funding would rapidly be made available to support on-going peace operations.

Mr Andris Piebalgs, EU Commissioner for Development, said since its creation in 2004, the African Peace Facility has had a direct and positive impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of Africans who are affected by conflicts and crises.

“Today’s new and significant financial contribution demonstrates the EU's continued commitment to supporting Africa in its work for peace and security,’’ he added

He said the new fund would allow the EU to support the success of on-going African-led peace operations, such as AMISOM in Somalia and MISCA in the Central African Republic."

It said the APF is a central instrument in co-operation between Africa and the EU on peace and security.

‘With today’s action programme, the APF would continue to support the following three main areas: African-led peace operations, the strengthening of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and quick impact actions aimed at conflict prevention and crisis management’’ it added.

It said the new action programme also introduces simplified and swifter decision-making procedures for extending or renewing support to on-going peace operations or support to the APSA.

It stated that, since 2004, the EU has provided over €1.2 billion of funding through the APF which has been effective in backing African efforts in the area of peace and security by providing predictable aid.

The statement added that the APF provides financing to the African Union and African regional economic communities and regional mechanisms.    

The APF has allowed a number of African-led peace operations to take place, such as the missions in Somalia (AMISOM), the Central African Republic (MISCA) or Mali (AFISMA)

Is said the APF has also support to training centres for peace-keepers to the establishment of a command, control, and communication and information system to run peace operations.

It noted that the APF does not fund military equipment, arms, ammunition or military training, but in peace operations, they typically covers allowances for the troops, salaries for civilians as well as logistical, transport, medical and communication costs.

It said the facility has also supported a number of activities in mediation and conflict prevention, a joint verification mechanism which aims at restoring trust between the Democratic Republic of Congo and its neighbours through patrolling, monitoring and reporting.

(GNA)