ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — H.E. Mr. Kazuhiro Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative of Japan to the African Union (AU), today handed over $ 5 million to the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Amb. Smal Chergui, to support various African peace and stability initiatives on the continent.
The contribution will go towards aiding the police and civilian components of the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA), as well as efforts to bring peace and stability to South Sudan and Sudan.
Speaking during the handover of the cheque, at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Amb. Suzuki lauded the progress made by MISCA in less than three months since its deployment on 19 December 2013. “This contribution demonstrates Japan’s acknowledgement of the value of the AU intervention in CAR and its confidence in Africa’s ability to address this and other conflicts in the region,” said Amb. Suzuki.
Amb. Sma?l Chergui reiterated the appreciation of the African Union to Japan for the partnership for peace in the Central African Republic and across the continent and welcomed the contribution as both apt and timely, “this contribution comes just as the AU finds itself at the cusp of significant improvements in the Central African Republic. Nonetheless a lot remains to be done in order to find a lasting solution to the conflicts in the region. This contribution is testament to Japan’s continued commitment to working closely with the AU to achieve sustainable peace and stability in Africa.”
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