European Commission representatives recently completed an official visit to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that strengthened ties between the two organizations and furthered support for the Horn of Africa region.

"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,” European Commission High Representative and Vice President Federica Mogherini said in a press release. “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 vice versa, and we have a lot to gain from increased cooperation at all levels."

Mogherini and European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica met with the Moussa Faki Mahamat, the new leader of the African Union Commission, and pledged financial support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

"This EUR 120 million ($129 million) support reinforces our commitment to the peace building mission in Somalia,” Mimica said in the release. “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."