African leaders and international donors have pledged nearly 500 million USD funding to restore Mali's security and provide humanitarian aid to its people.

Soldiers from Chad - part of the African-led military force - patrol the recently liberated town of Gao in northern Mali (Photo: AP)

The commitment was made on Tuesday at a conference in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. Japan is the biggest donor with 120 million USD, followed by the US with 96 million USD. The commitment did not reach 960 million USD, the amount that the African Union considers sufficient for 1 year’s operation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)-organized military mission and Mali’s army. Cote d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara, who is also the current ECOWAS head, said that now it’s important to disburse the funding. He was confident that nations will support Mali even more in 2013.