European Commission in US $70m support for African Union

The European Commission and African Union are to sign a US $70 million support programme during a visit by an EC delegation led by President José Manuel Barroso to the pan-African organisation’s headquarters in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa next week, an envoy said.

The EC funds - which cannot be used for peacekeeping operations - will help the AU to meet running costs, such as strengthening its institutions through recruitment, capacity building and information technology. "We are very aware of the financial gaps the AU is facing for its peacekeeping missions.

These issues will be discussed with the EC delegation to see how we can respond positively to the requirements," Tim Clarke, head of the EC delegation in Ethiopia, said.

The EC announcement coincides with a plan to expand the AU’s peacekeeping operation in the war-ravaged western Sudanese region of Darfur by 4,000, bringing the force to 11,000 men. But AU officials say the expansion is uncertain due to limited resources.

According to the officials, the organisation would need another $178 million to boost its force by two more battalions of about 1,360 men.

The 7,000-strong force costs $465 million a year to operate.

A United Nations proposal to transform the AU force into blue berets has been rejected by Sudanese authorities. A UN spokesman in Khartoum said the world body was optimistic that Sudan may accept a proposal to send UN military advisers and support staff to aid the AU mission.

"We all know that the Sudanese government is very much in favour of this because they want the African Union to stay and they are opposed to a transition to the UN," said UN spokesman Bahaa Elkoussy on Wednesday.

"I think they are just taking their time to study and consider all the details and specifics before they come back with an answer."

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the chairman of the African Union Commission, Alpha Omar Konare, last week sent a letter to Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir, offering UN support to the struggling AU mission in Darfur. Elkoussy said the Sudanese government was reviewing the package, which includes an offer of military advisers as well as help with logistics, transportation and communication.

The mandate of the mission was due to expire on 30 September, but the AU Peace and Security Council voted last week to remain in Darfur until the end of this year to prevent a security vacuum, and try to contain the escalating violence that has displaced thousands more people in recent weeks.

The Darfur conflict began when rebels attacked government positions in February 2003 complaining that remote Darfur remained undeveloped due to neglect by the central government.

Sudan is criticised for arming Arab militias to crush the rebellion in a campaign of rape and murder - charges it denies.

eo/mw