EU pledges EUR 50 million to support African-led peace operation in Mali

January 30, 2013.

    On 29 January at a donor conference on Mali hosted by the African Union in Addis Ababa, Commissioner for development, Andris Piebalgs, representing the European Union, confirmed the contribution of EUR 50 million from the European Union to support the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA).
    
    On this occasion, Andris Piebalgs stated: “By providing a substantial financial support to AFISMA, the European Union is sending a strong message that we are serious about actively supporting Mali in maintaining its unity and territorial integrity and bringing back peace and stability to the region”.
    
    He added: “We are preparing new programmes to provide assistance to the civilian population, who are severely affected by the crisis, and to assist the Malian government’s efforts towards the swift restoration of democracy in line with the roadmap recently adopted”.
    UN Security Council Resolution 2085 (2012) authorized the deployment of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali for an initial period of one year.