9 March 2007
Addis Ababa — The United States government on Thursday donated two sport utility vehicles amounting to fifty thousand US dollars (US$ 50,000), to the African Union's Strategic Planning and Management Unit (SPMU).
The donation falls in line with the US government funding to the African Union peace keeping operations management.
To date the US Government has provided US$250,000 in funding to the SPMU, a media statement from AU said adding, this latest donation brings the total in-kind and cash contribution from the United States to the Unit to $300,000.
AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Ambassador Saïd Djinnit received the donation from Ambassador Cindy L. Courville, Ambassador of the United States Mission to the African Union in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia.
"On that occasion, Ambassador Saïd Djinnit expressed his appreciation for this valuable gesture and the continued support by the United States Government to the African Union efforts to bring about peace in the Continent in general and in Somalia in particular," AU said in a media statement.
He indicated that the equipment is of paramount importance to the AMISOM Strategic Planning Unit and will go a long way to enhance its efficiency. "Such assistance from the international community is very welcomed, as it would help the African Union military forces deployed in Somalia", he explained.
Ambassador Courville on her part said the donation was another visible indication of the United States' continued support of the African Union's efforts to bring peace to Somalia, the statement said.
The ceremony at the Headquarters of the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was attended by some officials of the Strategic Management and Planning Unit and representatives of the US Mission to the African Union, according to the statement.
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