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.”
