EU will continue to support AMISOM with an additional EUR 100 million until 2013
The European Union (EU) has urged Kenya to strengthen its cooperation with the EU in combating piracy off the coast of Somalia.
Speaking to the press in Brussels shortly after meeting with the Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Amollo Odinga, European Union (EU) Council Chief, Herman Van Rompuy, said the east African country is an important partner for the EU in fostering peace, stability and development in the Horn of Africa.
Van Rompuy expressed his satisfaction with the Kenyan agreed to integrate its forces in Somalia into the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to save the peace and security in Somalia.
He announced that the EU will continue to support AMISOM with an additional EUR 100 million until 2013.
Last week, the EU decided to extend the EU Naval Force Operation ATALANTA off Somalia for two years until December 2014.
Van Rompuy said the EU will continue to seek transfer agreements with countries in the region to ensure that suspected pirates are brought to justice.
The EU also announced that it will to deploy a civilian crisis management mission to strengthen maritime capacities in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean region.
On his part, Kenyan prime minister, Odinga who briefed Van Rompuy on the developments in Somalia and his country’s position on the issue called on the international community to remain focused on the issue of Somalia.
Source: KUNA
