EU-Somalia: first hand-over of non-lethal military equipment funded by the European Peace Facility takes place in Mogadishu

In the context of EU support to the Somali Security Forces, military equipment was delivered this week to the Somali National Army (SNA). Several units were provided with EU-funded military equipment following specialised training by the EU Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM-S). All beneficiary soldiers also underwent training on international human rights and humanitarian law prior to the hand-over.

“This is a key step for the EU support to the Somali National Army in the context of the security transition. We want the European Peace Facility support to gain maximal relevance.” – Peter M. Wagner, Head of the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), stated.

The EU support, implemented by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), aims at enhancing the operational capabilities of the SNA, thereby contributing to the Somali security forces and institutions taking over full responsibility for security in Somalia, as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) draws down.

Since 1 January 2022, the European Union provided EUR 20 million under the EPF, for which FPI acts as administrator, to enhance the capacities of the SNA. The support focuses on the provision of non-lethal military equipment and on infrastructure works, in close coordination with EUTM-Somalia.

On 2 March 2023, EU Member States agreed to provide an additional support package of EUR 25 million for the SNA. It will further strengthen the current support to the armed forces. EU Member States also agreed on an additional financial package for the military component of ATMIS of EUR 85 million for the year 2023. The total EU support to ATMIS since 2007 amounts to over EUR 2.5 billion.

These two parallel actions aim at allowing ATMIS to fulfil its mandate while building the capacities of the SNA to gradually take over security responsibilities, in line with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and with the Somali Transition Plan. They are financed under the EPF’s Assistance Measure for support to the African Union, worth EUR 600 million for the period 2022-2024.

FPI is also supporting Somalia with crisis response, conflict prevention and peace building actions for an amount of EUR 25 million, covering notably rapid stabilisation in newly recovered areas.