AFRICAN UNION

							        AFRICAN UNION                                                      UNION AFRICAINE

                                                                            UNIÃO AFRICANA
     Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA P. O. Box 3243 Téléphone : 5517 700 Fax : 5511299
                         website : www. africa-union.org
                   DIVISION OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION


                               PRESS RELEASE N.47/2008


 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DONATES TWO VEHICLES FOR THE STRATEGIC
                PLANNING UNIT OF THE AFRICAN UNION


Addis Ababa 6 March 2008 - On behalf of the Commission of the African Union,
Ambassador Saïd Djinnit, Commissioner for Peace and Security, today 6 March 2008,
received a donation consisting of two sport utility vehicles amounting to fifty thousand US
dollars (US$ 50,000), from Ambassador Cindy L. Courville, Ambassador of the United
States Mission to the African Union in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia.

The cars to be used by the African Union’s Strategic Planning and Management Unit
(SPMU), 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. This donation brings the total in-kind and cash contribution from the
United States to the Unit to $300,000.

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. 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, in handing over the keys of the vehicles to Ambassador
Saïd Djinnit, stressed on the strong partnership prevailing between the African Union and
the United Sates of America. She pointed out the desire of the American people to support
the work of the African Union. “This donation is another visible indication of the United
States’ continued support of the African Union’s efforts to bring peace to Somalia” she
said, adding that, there is need for greater coordination between the African Union,
member states and international donors, so as to better harmonize efforts to build the
capacity and capability needed to ensure the African Union’s success in Somalia and in
other areas of conflict within the continent.

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.


                    Division of Communication and Information. African Union Commission
                              E mail: dinfo@africa-union.org Fax 251 11 5511299