Brussels, 14/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - The EU is about to “risk losing its credibility” because of the delays in launching a military operation in the Central African Republic (EUFOR RCA) to provide security for Bangui Airport and two surrounding areas, explained EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton in a letter to the EU member states on Tuesday 11 March. Her call for action to prevent the EU from losing credibility did not generate any reaction because the Foreign Affairs Council, on Monday 17 March, will have no choice but to postpone the decision to launch the operation and thus delay the almost immediate arrival of the first European troops in the country.
The EU pledged, on 10 February, to launch the operation and EUFOR RCA has had a plan of operations and robust engagement rules since the start of this month. On 10 March, the EU validated a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the Central African Republic's transition government, giving the operation a legal framework in the CAR and the usual immunity for soldiers. On paper, everything seems to be ready to launch the operation, but unexpectedly, the member states have been unable to arrange the deployment of their troops.
There are due to be between 800 and 1,000 troops following the unexpected U-turn by Poland and Romania, but this is not the main concern of the operation's commander, French General Philippe Pontiès. Initial deployment is scheduled for far fewer troops, but various categories of equipment and logistical support is crucial, including aircraft, and this is what is still lacking at this stage.
Ashton's letter was sent to defence and foreign minsters two days before the fourth big force generation conference to muster the remaining contributions from member states and non-EU countries, a conference that Ashton says should be able “to overcome the current difficulties and bridge the remaining gaps in order to preserve the EU's image and credibility”, so the operation can be launched as planned on 17 March. The conference did not achieve expectations, however, because not all the gaps were filled and nobody is prepared to speculate at present on a new launch date.
A high-ranking EU official said on Friday 14 March that the delays in the launch were hardly surprising because a number of the EU's earlier missions suffered the same fate. He said the operation would be launched shortly. This, however, will come as little comfort to people in CAR, because as Ashton explains in her letter, “the risk of large-scale atrocities still persists, the exodus of the Muslim population continues and the civilian population, in particular women and children, continues to suffer from the current situation” - a situation described by Ashton as “tense”.
In a joint letter dated Friday 14 March by French foreign minister Laurent Fabius and French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, the two politicians express alarm that despite contributions announced by a number of European countries, more is still needed and if further effort is not provided very rapidly, then it will not be possible to launch this vital operation next week, as planned. (JK)