AU pledging conference for Mali raises over $455

Dashing higher expectations, China and India made a mere $1 million each.

Emnet Assefa

 

 

Countries from all over the world have made a donation of a total of $455.53 million at the AU pledging conference for Mali to support the Malian defence forces and the African- led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) in their battles against Al-Qaeda linked militants.

Earlier President Allassane Ouattara of Ivory Cost estimated the cost for the peace keeping process to be a $950 million.

In a meeting chaired by the current AU chairperson Pm Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia, close to 50 countries including the US and China have made the donation, with Japan topping the list by pledging $120 million followed by the United States of America donating $96 million. The EU has made an early donation of 50 million Euro. However, the big surprise of the event came when China and India announced they can only make a contribution of $1 million each.

Weapons, training, and other logistics support were also made by many members states if the AU while the AU has pledged $50 Million for the first time in its history.

Speaking at the event Mali’s interim president, Dioncounda Traore, said that, “human right violation during the crisis is a main focus.” He also promised he will work for an election in the country in the coming few months.

Closing the 20th summit of the Union Prime Minster Hailemariam praised the Union’s pledge as “the continent started taking its problems on its own hands.”

His own country Ethiopia pledged a $5 million in logistics. In an exclusive interview with Addis Standard, Tedros Adnahom, Ethiopia’s newly appointed minister of foreign affairs said that the donation will be made in kind consisting of military equipment such as combat boots,  khakis and other accessories. He also says Ethiopia will be donating the accessories based on the needs of AFISMA.