Brussels, 19/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - Brigadier General Bruno Guibert of France was appointed, on Friday 19 July, to head the EU mission for the training of the Malian army. On 1 August, he will take over from current head of mission Brigadier General François Lecointre of France.
In February, Lecointre took part in the setting up of EUTM Mali. Five months after the beginning of the mission, a first battalion of Malian soldiers (715 strong) had completed a training course and was able to leave Koulikoro camp where the European trainers are based. The headquarters is based in Bamako.
The training of a second battalion has been underway since the end of June. By the end of the mandate (May 2014), two further battalions should have undergone six weeks' training. During his visit to Brussels, on Wednesday 17 July, Lecointre advised that the training mission should be continued for a year after the end of its initial mandate in order to train four additional battalions. (JK/transl.jl)