Brussels, 28/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 28 January, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a mandate authorising the EU to launch a military operation in the Central African Republic (CAR). This future operation also has a commander as the Political and Security Committee (PSC) approved the appointment of General Philippe Pontiès from France the same day. It also approved a name - EUFOR CAR. The way has now been paved for accelerated operational planning - with the operation likely to be launched at the end of February, once the green light has been given by the Council of the EU.
The mandate that the EU has just received is largely the same as the one given to France in December 2013 to intervene militarily in the CAR (operation Sangaris). It stipulates that the Security Council “authorises the EU operation to take all necessary measures within the limits of its capacities and areas of deployment from its initial deployment and for a period of six months from the declaration of its full operational capacity”.
Preparations for the launch of the EU operation are well under way. A reconnaissance team from the EU military staff went to Bangui on Wednesday 22 January and is due to return on Wednesday 29 January. It is conducting reconnaissance in order to present an initial needs assessment to General Pontiès. A force generation conference, to bring together member states' contributions of troops, is likely to be held soon - with the objective of deploying around 500. At the same time, the EEAS is negotiating the status of forces agreement (SOFA) with the government of the CAR, which should give a legal framework to the presence of European troops in the CAR (legal responsibility, immunity). (JK/transl.fl)