Brussels, 25/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - After a whole host of problems (see EUROPE 11040), on Tuesday 1 April the EU finally succeeded in launching a military operation in the Central African Republic (EUFOR CAR).
The first European soldiers are expected to arrive on Central African Republic territory over the next 48 hours, at the very time that the EU-Africa summit is taking place in Brussels (see other articles and EUROPE 11050).
EUFOR CAR is the fifth EU military operation currently taking place. Its aim will be to make the airport zone around Bangui secure, as well as two districts in the capital, for a maximum non-renewable six-month period. Its launch (approved by the Council according to written procedure) was finally made possible with the results of the most recent forces generation conference held on Friday 28 March. During this meeting, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy agreed to provide strategic and logistic transport resources that had hitherto been lacking.
Although not all the shortcomings have been solved yet to ensure that the operation does indeed achieve full operational capacity over the next three months (from 800 to 1,000 soldiers), the first troops can now be deployed in an effort to making the country secure, a country which has been increasingly subject to intra-religious killings. The operational headquarters has already been set up in Larissa, Greece, whilst the Force Headquarters and the troops will be located in Bangui.
In a press release, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton welcomed the launch of this operation and asserted that, “The launch of this operation demonstrates the EU's determination to take full part in international efforts to restore stability and security” in CAR. She also stressed that, “It is vital that there is a return to public order as soon as possible, so that the political transition process can be put back on track”.
The common costs of the operation are estimated at €25.9 million for the preparatory phase and a mandate of up to six months starting from the point of reaching full operational capability. The force will comprise up to 1,000 troops, led by Major-General Philippe Pontiès (France). (JK)