Addis Ababa, March 6, 2008 – On behalf of the Commission of the African Union, Ambassador Saïd Djinnit, Commissioner for Peace and Security received, today 6 March 2008, a donation by Ambassador Cindy L. Courville, Ambassador of the United States Mission to the African Union in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia. The present amounting to fifty thousand US dollars (US$ 50,000) consists of two sport utility vehicles for the use of the AMISOM Strategic Planning Unit at the AU Headquarters.

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.

On her part, in handing over the keys of the vehicles to Ambassador Saïd Djinnit, Ambassador Courville stressed the strong partnership which prevails between the African Union and the United Sates of America, and pointed out to the desire of the American people to support the work of the African Union.