AU troops not paid for six months

The allowances for African troops fighting al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia have not been paid for at least six months. The 22,000-strong African Union force (Amisom) fighting the Islamist militant group al-Shabab is funded by the EU. An European Union source said last six-month payment was being withheld over “accounting issues”. The head of Amisom said […]

The allowances for African troops fighting al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia have not been paid for at least six months.
The 22,000-strong African Union force (Amisom) fighting the Islamist militant group al-Shabab is funded by the EU.
An European Union source said last six-month payment was being withheld over “accounting issues”. The head of Amisom said the correct papers to account for the last tranche had now been submitted.
“These papers are on their way; the money is also on its way,” Francisco Madeira said.
The EU provides $1,028 (£700) for each Amisom soldier each month; their respective governments then deduct around $200 for administrative costs meaning the soldiers are supposed to take home about $800.
This deployment allowance is much more than the meagre salaries the soldiers receive from their governments.