Brussels, 25/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 25 September, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the EU mission to provide advice and assistance for security sector reform in the Democratic Republic of Congo (EUSEC RD Congo) until 30 June 2015.
This decision extends the transition period, during which the mission will have a reduced staff and will focus on preparing the transfer of most of its duties to a major programme to support defence reform in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under the 11th European Development Fund.
From 30 June 2015 until 30 June 2016, EUSEC RD Congo will function as a CSDP micromission, maintaining the EU's support to the Congolese military authorities for activities which cannot be supported from the European Development Fund - such as strategic advice and support to military schools.
The mission will continue assisting the Congolese authorities on the implementation of reforms in the Congolese army (FARDC) by providing advice at the strategic level as well as further support to administrative modernisation, setting up of an effective human resource management system for the army, and building a permanent high quality military education system including schools for both officers and non-commissioned officers.
From 1 October 2014, EU SEC RD Congo's staff will be reduced from 41 to 30 and will be further cut as tasks are passed on. A budget of €4.6 million is available until 30 June 2015. Since 2005 EUSEC RD Congo has supported the Congolese authorities in rebuilding an army. Colonel Jean-Louis Nurenberg has been the head of mission since October 2012. Currently, ten EU member states and the United States contribute to the mission. (LC)