JOINT PRESS RELEASE

African Peace Facility: African Union Peace & Security Operations boosted by an additional €800 million from the European Union

Addis Ababa, 22 July, 2019: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat and the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica today announced the signing of an agreement through which the EU commits a further €800 million to support the AU in its efforts to promote peace, security and stability in Africa within the context of the continued implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture.

“This is a commendable milestone in a long history of EU support to Africa, and is in line with the African Peace and Security Architecture and African-led efforts to silence the guns,” said Chairperson Moussa Faki “I also commend the African contributions to the recently revitalized Peace Fund, which demonstrates the commitment to African ownership of peace and security operations on the continent.”

Commissioner Mimica said “Europe remains Africa’s first partner in the area of peace and security. Since 2004, the African Peace Facility has provided €2.7 billion to support African solutions to African problems. Most of the additional €800 million announced today will go to peace support operations led by our African partners.”

Under this phase of the African Peace Facility, the EU will support (i) the strengthening of conflict prevention, management and resolution structures and mechanisms of the African Peace and Security Architecture; (ii) AU efforts to establish a continental Human Rights and international humanitarian law compliance framework; (iii) an Early Response Mechanism which will provide the African Union with quick funding for preventive diplomacy initiatives, mediation, fact-finding missions, and the first stages of peace support operations; (iv) the financing of African-led peace support operations, such as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram, the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) or the G5 Sahel Joint Force specifically, with regards to capacity building, troop allowances, non-lethal equipment. It will also support efforts of the AU to promote gender and human rights principles and practices in peace support operations.

Media contacts:
Mrs Esther Tankou Azaa Yambou, Head of Division: Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission, Tel: +251(0) 911361185, E-mail: YambouE@african-union.org
Mr Biruk Feleke, Press & Information Officer, Delegation of the European Union to the African Union, Tel: +251(0) 911514809 biruk.feleke@eeas.europa.eu