Brussels, 15/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - During the second day of the Foreign Affairs Council, which was held in Luxembourg on Tuesday 15 April, the EU defence ministers gave their green light to the establishment of a civilian support mission to Mali's internal security forces (EUCAP Sahel Mali), under the common security and defence policy (CSDP). The ministers also took advantage of their meeting to extend the military mission for training the Malian army (EUTM Mali) for another two years - until 18 May 2016. A point was also covered on the deployment of the EU's military operation in the Central African Republic (EUFOR RCA).
Mali. As armed rebel groups continue to be active in Northern Mali and tension persists with the Tuareg community, the EU has decided to launch a second mission under the CSDP soon - this time to contribute to the training of civilian security forces. EUCAP Sahel Mali will therefore give strategic advice and training to Mali's three internal security forces - the police, the Gendarmerie and the Garde nationale. Like the EUTM Mali mission, its staff will be based in Bamoko. The mandate will be for two years - once the Council of the EU has adopted it. A budget of €5.5 million has been allocated for the start-up phase, which will last for nine months and will come to an end on 14 January 2015. In the view of High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, this new mission “is a further demonstration of the EU's commitment to supporting reform in Mali”, which will ultimately enable “a lasting solution to Mali's security challenges” to be reached.
The challenges abound and also affect the capacity of the Malian army to affirm its control in the north of the country - particularly in the region of Kidal. It is for this reason that the EU launched a military training mission in February. The initial mandate was planned to ensure 12-week training courses for four battalions of the Malian army in Koulikoro camp. On 15 April, the Council decided to extend this mission for two years in order to leave time to train the last four battalions in a similar way. This mission also comprises a second part, which consists of providing expertise and advice - particularly in the fields of operational command, logistical support, human resources, and operational preparation and information. The joint costs of extending the mission are estimated at €27.7 million, for a staff of around 550 people.
Central African Republic. The head of the EUFOR RCA mission, Major General Philippe Pontiès from France, told the EU ministers that the first troops will begin to execute the mission assigned to them at the end of April. This initial operational capacity will see full operation of force headquarters (FHQ) in Bangui and the start of the protection and security of M'Poko Airport, Pontiès said during a press conference in Luxembourg. While the preparatory phase of the mission has experienced a number of difficulties (see EUROPE 11039), these have only partially been resolved - just enough to deploy the first troops. Pontiès is soon due to turn to the EU member states again because “to be able to fulfil this mission comfortably, dealing with all the tasks included in the operation plan, a further contribution will be required”. This concerns medical capabilities and staff, as well as the continuing problem of transport to the CAR. Nevertheless, in Pontiès' opinion, these are not the issues which necessarily concern him most. “Stupidly, it is accommodation that is going to slow us down the most because in the CAR and in Bangui there is nothing - everything has to be done, everything has to be build”, he said. (JK)