The Federal Government has urged African Union (AU) member states to increase funding for the AU Peace Fund to strengthen peace operations and the continent's capacity to prevent and resolve conflicts. In a statement on Saturday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the call at the 26th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union in Luanda, Angola, convened on the theme, 'Strengthening Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.' Odumegwu-Ojukwu said African-led peace operations required predictable and reliable financing for personnel, logistics, equipment and other operational needs, warning that uncertain funding could undermine their effectiveness. The minister said member states had collectively contributed about $350.2 million, representing 87.5 per cent of the original $400 million capitalisation target, while the Peace Fund's balance had exceeded $405 million.
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