Boost For AMISOM As AU Adopts Peace Fund To Finance Peace Operations

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Boost For AMISOM As AU Adopts Peace Fund To Finance Peace Operations

The African Union will raise $325 million annually to support 25 percent of its peace operations in a move that could help cover the 20 percent shortfall occasioned by the European Union cut on annual funding to the African Union's Mission in So

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The African Union will raise $325 million annually to support 25 percent of its peace operations in a move that could help cover the 20 percent shortfall occasioned by the European Union cut on annual funding to the African Union's Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

The development follows an adoption of the AU Peace Fund by heads of states and governments during the 27th ordinary summit in Rwanda on Monday.

The funds, which will be raised equally from all the five regions of the continent, will be drawn from a 0.2% levy on eligible imports.

Each region, the Summit agreed, will contribute $65 million with an 80 percent target in 2020.

The Fund will likely support one of the continent’s most expensive peace operations, AMISOM, which has lately suffered funds shortage following the decision by the EU to slash its budget on stipend to the AMISOM soldiers by 20 percent starting February this year.

AMISOM operates on a $900 million annual budget with 22,000 troops drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti and Ethiopia.

The African Union, and particularly troops contributing countries to AMISOM, have in the past warned against contributing any money to fund to the mission noting the funding of peace operations is the responsibility of the United Nations.

The African Union Commission chairperson, Dlamini Zuma, said the AU will also adopt mechanisms to develop a more robust and effective system to seek funding from the UN to fund the remaining 75 percent of the cost of peace support operations.

In a similar development, the African Union will build the capacity of Somali security forces to ensure it effectively takes charge once AMISOM troops leave the Horn of Africa country in 2018.