Brussels, 08/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - The countries of the European Union have started to examine the different options to support the French intervention in the Central African Republic (CAR), but most still seem reluctant to send troops to Bangui.
The debate will intensify until 20 January, when the foreign affairs ministers of the 28 EU member states will have to take a decision at the Council in Brussels. Experts from the European External Action Service (EEAS) have set out several military engagement scenarios, the most ambitious of which is the launch of a military mission in support of the African MISMA operation and the French Sangaris operation. While the 28 EU member states approve the principle of such a military mission, two options are on the table.
One would see European soldiers based in Bangui, patrolling the capital and taking over from French military personnel in the task of securing the sensitive airport area where a large camp of around 100,000 displaced people is to be found. The other option consists of European military personnel being based in the west of the country to “ensure security” on the strategic road to Cameroon. For such a role, deployment of a battalion of around 800 to 1200 soldiers would be necessary, with appropriate equipment, including helicopters and intelligence and medical resources. The challenge would be to put in place such a response swiftly, even though European procedures are usually lengthy and complex. Until now, a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium and Germany, have proposed logistical support in the form of transport assistance. Belgium has announced that it would only send soldiers as part of a European contingent.