News Release
Poul Nielson
No. 95/04
June 10, 2004
EU MOBILIZES €12 MILLION FROM PEACE FACILITY TO SUPPORT
AFRICAN UNION PEACE-KEEPING OPERATION IN DARFUR, SUDAN
The European Commission
welcomes the final approval by EU
Member States of a proposal to mobilize €12 million in support of an Africa
Union peace-keeping operation in Darfur,
Sudan. The funding will support the rapid deployment and operations of an
African Union led observer mission that will monitor the implementation of the
recent cease-fire agreement in Darfur. Funds will for the first time be mobilized
through the recently established Africa Peace Facility. The Peace Facility provides
€ 250 million from the
European Development Fund to support African led peace keeping operations
in
Africa.
EU Commissioner for
Development and
Humanitarian Aid
Poul Nielson said: “Resolving conflicts in Africa and bringing
peace to the continent will first of all require effective and responsible leadership
by the Africans. The African Union has shown just that in its response to the
Darfur crisis. This is greatly encouraging and raises prospects not only of a
lasting end to the conflict in Darfur but for peace across the African continent.
I also take great satisfaction in the swiftness with which the EU has dealt with
the African Union request. The Peace Facility is a new instrument that could become
an important tool in the construction of the new peace and security agenda in
Africa. Member States have today shown that they are willing to allow this new
instrument to play just that role and that the EU will be a credible partner in
the African Unions aspiration’s to assume the necessary leadership of this peace
and security agenda.”
The EU will provide €12 million in support of the African Union observer mission
to Darfur for a period of 12 months. The observer mission will comprise up to
120 observers and a possible protection force of 270 military personnel. The observers
will support the implementation of the cease-fire agreement signed by the parties
to the Darfur conflict in Addis Ababa on 28 May 2004 . In particular the m
ission is expected to: (i) ensure that the rules and provisions of the cease-fire
are implemented; (ii) define routes for the movement of forces to reduce the risks
of incidents; (iii) assess requirements for de-mining operations; and (iv) receive,
verify and judge complaints related to possible violations of the cease-fire.
The observer mission is currently being deployed in Sudan. A successful implementation
of the cease-fire agreement is a precondition if vital humanitarian aid is to
reach the millions of Sudanese that have been affected by the conflict.
The EU contribution to the African Union observer mission is mobilized from
the African Peace Facility which was established on 19 April 2004 . €250 million
have been made available for the African Peace Facility from the 9th
European Development Fund. The main objectives of the Peace Facility are to: (i)
promote African solutions to African crises by providing the African Union with
the “financial muscle” to back up its political resolve with concrete acts; (ii)
encourage African solidarity: African states have been contributing to the PF,
also those not involved in conflict resolution – this expression of solidarity
marks a recognition that peace and stability will be to the benefit of the continent
as a whole; and (iii) create the necessary conditions for development. Support
to peace-keeping must be seen as an integral part of fostering development. The
facility is designed to support African led, operated and staffed peace-keeping
initiatives in Africa. In addition, the facility will also contribute to the strengthening
of the capacity of the Africa Union and its sub-regional organizations to design,
plan and implement peace operations effectively on the continent.
The European Commission, through its Humanitarian Aid Office
ECHO, is also providing substantial humanitarian aid to the victims of the
Darfur conflict. A two-fold response has been organized. A total of €13.2 million
have been allocated to meet the needs of people affected by the conflict in the
Darfur region. Furthermore €6 million have been allocated for relief to the Sudanese
refugees that have fled to Chad as well as local host communities, many of which
are impoverished.
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Press Contacts:
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Anthony Gooch
202-862-9523
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Maeve O'Beirne
202-862-9549
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